very grateful for my au pair right now

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How much of a weekly bonus are you guys giving your au pair? We already pay a little higher than the stipend, but I was thinking of adding $50 more per week. Her hours have not changed much since she my husband and I are both WFH, but not instead of a morning/afternoon split schedule, she is working 51/2 hours straight with the kids (about 10:30-4).

Still, it’s a lot, and we are extremely grateful to have her here to help.

We have doubled the stipend to $400/wk. She is working 9-5.

Frankly we are saving a ton of money being home and all gym memberships/sports fees/toutoring fees/transportation costs and such put on hold. No issues paying extra!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are grateful, but not in a position to provide extra money during this time of economic uncertainly. We pay an extra $200/month already, and she has her own car, gym membership, expensive smart phone package, which we understand are less meaningful perks right now. Her working conditions 44/hours a week, one toddler, have not changed dramatically, except cannot go to one activity with other kids per day. Her social life has taken a hit, but so has everyone's and if she were home she would be in lock-down without a job. We have already said we will fly her home for a week if she renews her visa and extends. Beyond that we are not in a financial position to offer much.

What a deal...holy crap. Even with the 8k agency fee incredibly cheap labor.

Amazing that in 2020 it is still ok to pay someone under the federal minimum wage.

Rock on with your bad self!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are grateful, but not in a position to provide extra money during this time of economic uncertainly. We pay an extra $200/month already, and she has her own car, gym membership, expensive smart phone package, which we understand are less meaningful perks right now. Her working conditions 44/hours a week, one toddler, have not changed dramatically, except cannot go to one activity with other kids per day. Her social life has taken a hit, but so has everyone's and if she were home she would be in lock-down without a job. We have already said we will fly her home for a week if she renews her visa and extends. Beyond that we are not in a financial position to offer much.

What a deal...holy crap. Even with the 8k agency fee incredibly cheap labor.

Amazing that in 2020 it is still ok to pay someone under the federal minimum wage.

Rock on with your bad self!

get a life!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are grateful, but not in a position to provide extra money during this time of economic uncertainly. We pay an extra $200/month already, and she has her own car, gym membership, expensive smart phone package, which we understand are less meaningful perks right now. Her working conditions 44/hours a week, one toddler, have not changed dramatically, except cannot go to one activity with other kids per day. Her social life has taken a hit, but so has everyone's and if she were home she would be in lock-down without a job. We have already said we will fly her home for a week if she renews her visa and extends. Beyond that we are not in a financial position to offer much.

What a deal...holy crap. Even with the 8k agency fee incredibly cheap labor.

Amazing that in 2020 it is still ok to pay someone under the federal minimum wage.

Rock on with your bad self!

PP, get over yourself. You conveniently ignore that au pairs are NOT paying for what are generally major expenses in a person’s budget: lodging (furnished with everything - it’s not like APs have to go to Target to buy a coffee pot or a set of cooking utensils, or sheets, or curtains, or the many other expenses related to housing); all utilities; food; car payment and insurance; cell phone. Take your average minimum wage earner, subtract all of those expenses, and see if you think having $200 in unrestricted spending cash each WEEK seems so horrible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are grateful, but not in a position to provide extra money during this time of economic uncertainly. We pay an extra $200/month already, and she has her own car, gym membership, expensive smart phone package, which we understand are less meaningful perks right now. Her working conditions 44/hours a week, one toddler, have not changed dramatically, except cannot go to one activity with other kids per day. Her social life has taken a hit, but so has everyone's and if she were home she would be in lock-down without a job. We have already said we will fly her home for a week if she renews her visa and extends. Beyond that we are not in a financial position to offer much.

What a deal...holy crap. Even with the 8k agency fee incredibly cheap labor.

Amazing that in 2020 it is still ok to pay someone under the federal minimum wage.

Rock on with your bad self!

PP, get over yourself. You conveniently ignore that au pairs are NOT paying for what are generally major expenses in a person’s budget: lodging (furnished with everything - it’s not like APs have to go to Target to buy a coffee pot or a set of cooking utensils, or sheets, or curtains, or the many other expenses related to housing); all utilities; food; car payment and insurance; cell phone. Take your average minimum wage earner, subtract all of those expenses, and see if you think having $200 in unrestricted spending cash each WEEK seems so horrible.

Whatever you tell yourself to sleep at night.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are grateful, but not in a position to provide extra money during this time of economic uncertainly. We pay an extra $200/month already, and she has her own car, gym membership, expensive smart phone package, which we understand are less meaningful perks right now. Her working conditions 44/hours a week, one toddler, have not changed dramatically, except cannot go to one activity with other kids per day. Her social life has taken a hit, but so has everyone's and if she were home she would be in lock-down without a job. We have already said we will fly her home for a week if she renews her visa and extends. Beyond that we are not in a financial position to offer much.

What a deal...holy crap. Even with the 8k agency fee incredibly cheap labor.

Amazing that in 2020 it is still ok to pay someone under the federal minimum wage.

Rock on with your bad self!

PP, get over yourself. You conveniently ignore that au pairs are NOT paying for what are generally major expenses in a person’s budget: lodging (furnished with everything - it’s not like APs have to go to Target to buy a coffee pot or a set of cooking utensils, or sheets, or curtains, or the many other expenses related to housing); all utilities; food; car payment and insurance; cell phone. Take your average minimum wage earner, subtract all of those expenses, and see if you think having $200 in unrestricted spending cash each WEEK seems so horrible.

Whatever you tell yourself to sleep at night.

Absolutely, you likely have trouble sleeping at night yourself! Your poor parents....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are grateful, but not in a position to provide extra money during this time of economic uncertainly. We pay an extra $200/month already, and she has her own car, gym membership, expensive smart phone package, which we understand are less meaningful perks right now. Her working conditions 44/hours a week, one toddler, have not changed dramatically, except cannot go to one activity with other kids per day. Her social life has taken a hit, but so has everyone's and if she were home she would be in lock-down without a job. We have already said we will fly her home for a week if she renews her visa and extends. Beyond that we are not in a financial position to offer much.

What a deal...holy crap. Even with the 8k agency fee incredibly cheap labor.

Amazing that in 2020 it is still ok to pay someone under the federal minimum wage.

Rock on with your bad self!

PP, get over yourself. You conveniently ignore that au pairs are NOT paying for what are generally major expenses in a person’s budget: lodging (furnished with everything - it’s not like APs have to go to Target to buy a coffee pot or a set of cooking utensils, or sheets, or curtains, or the many other expenses related to housing); all utilities; food; car payment and insurance; cell phone. Take your average minimum wage earner, subtract all of those expenses, and see if you think having $200 in unrestricted spending cash each WEEK seems so horrible.

Whatever you tell yourself to sleep at night.

Curious, are you a host parent? Nanny? Au pair? What perspective and experience are you personally bringing to the conversation?

I can tell you that I was responsible for my own expenses between ages 18-26 and would have been thrilled to have even $50 of “fun money” per week. Au pair life is pretty darn close to “all expenses paid”. Truly the only things we don’t buy for our au pairs is their personal preferred toiletries/make up or their clothing (which they’ve typically brought from home). We have purchased winter clothing for au pairs because they haven’t brought winter coats or boots. How much weekly pocket cash is reasonable in your opinion for someone with no fixed expenses?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are grateful, but not in a position to provide extra money during this time of economic uncertainly. We pay an extra $200/month already, and she has her own car, gym membership, expensive smart phone package, which we understand are less meaningful perks right now. Her working conditions 44/hours a week, one toddler, have not changed dramatically, except cannot go to one activity with other kids per day. Her social life has taken a hit, but so has everyone's and if she were home she would be in lock-down without a job. We have already said we will fly her home for a week if she renews her visa and extends. Beyond that we are not in a financial position to offer much.

What a deal...holy crap. Even with the 8k agency fee incredibly cheap labor.

Amazing that in 2020 it is still ok to pay someone under the federal minimum wage.

Rock on with your bad self!

PP, get over yourself. You conveniently ignore that au pairs are NOT paying for what are generally major expenses in a person’s budget: lodging (furnished with everything - it’s not like APs have to go to Target to buy a coffee pot or a set of cooking utensils, or sheets, or curtains, or the many other expenses related to housing); all utilities; food; car payment and insurance; cell phone. Take your average minimum wage earner, subtract all of those expenses, and see if you think having $200 in unrestricted spending cash each WEEK seems so horrible.

Whatever you tell yourself to sleep at night.

Curious, are you a host parent? Nanny? Au pair? What perspective and experience are you personally bringing to the conversation?

I can tell you that I was responsible for my own expenses between ages 18-26 and would have been thrilled to have even $50 of “fun money” per week. Au pair life is pretty darn close to “all expenses paid”. Truly the only things we don’t buy for our au pairs is their personal preferred toiletries/make up or their clothing (which they’ve typically brought from home). We have purchased winter clothing for au pairs because they haven’t brought winter coats or boots. How much weekly pocket cash is reasonable in your opinion for someone with no fixed expenses?

A long time host parent.

Frankly I'm thrilled for the laws in Massachusetts. I think it should be implemented across the board. The program as outlined is exploitive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are grateful, but not in a position to provide extra money during this time of economic uncertainly. We pay an extra $200/month already, and she has her own car, gym membership, expensive smart phone package, which we understand are less meaningful perks right now. Her working conditions 44/hours a week, one toddler, have not changed dramatically, except cannot go to one activity with other kids per day. Her social life has taken a hit, but so has everyone's and if she were home she would be in lock-down without a job. We have already said we will fly her home for a week if she renews her visa and extends. Beyond that we are not in a financial position to offer much.

What a deal...holy crap. Even with the 8k agency fee incredibly cheap labor.

Amazing that in 2020 it is still ok to pay someone under the federal minimum wage.

Rock on with your bad self!

But you're no longer paying a gym membership and probably not for gas either cuz she isn't going anywhere.