how to get au pair to extend in this environment

[Anonymous]

Our best au pair to date is scheduled to finish with us this fall. Before COVID, she was strongly considering extending with us. Now, she seems to be leaning more against, for all the obvious reasons.

We are not surprised, and in fact we're very sympathetic--honestly, we think she's a trouper for having stuck things out as long as she has; this is not what she signed up for. But selfishly, we REALLY would love her to stay for even 6 months longer. And we see that this could have some advantages for her. Her country has been hard hit, and she's unlikely to be able to get a job when she returns, so she'd have to wait until next fall to enroll in graduate school (her plan). In the meantime she'll be stuck living with her family, and they are struggling financially due to the current crisis.

We are currently paying her a stipend of $300, up from $200, due to the circumstances. In addition, we'd of course offer her a ticket home for a visit when and if travel restrictions are lifted, as well as extra paid time off to go home for up to a month. What else can we do to make this seriously worth her while? I imagine that host families are offering major extension bonuses right now, and major signing bonuses. What neighborhood do you think is called for to really get her attention and make this fair? Honestly, we're over a bit of a barrel, so while we're not made of money, I'd pay almost anything. But I want to know what others think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our best au pair to date is scheduled to finish with us this fall. Before COVID, she was strongly considering extending with us. Now, she seems to be leaning more against, for all the obvious reasons.

We are not surprised, and in fact we're very sympathetic--honestly, we think she's a trouper for having stuck things out as long as she has; this is not what she signed up for. But selfishly, we REALLY would love her to stay for even 6 months longer. And we see that this could have some advantages for her. Her country has been hard hit, and she's unlikely to be able to get a job when she returns, so she'd have to wait until next fall to enroll in graduate school (her plan). In the meantime she'll be stuck living with her family, and they are struggling financially due to the current crisis.

We are currently paying her a stipend of $300, up from $200, due to the circumstances. In addition, we'd of course offer her a ticket home for a visit when and if travel restrictions are lifted, as well as extra paid time off to go home for up to a month. What else can we do to make this seriously worth her while? I imagine that host families are offering major extension bonuses right now, and major signing bonuses. What neighborhood do you think is called for to really get her attention and make this fair? Honestly, we're over a bit of a barrel, so while we're not made of money, I'd pay almost anything. But I want to know what others think.

OP here. To put it more directly, what's the biggest extension bonus / incentive you've heard of?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our best au pair to date is scheduled to finish with us this fall. Before COVID, she was strongly considering extending with us. Now, she seems to be leaning more against, for all the obvious reasons.

We are not surprised, and in fact we're very sympathetic--honestly, we think she's a trouper for having stuck things out as long as she has; this is not what she signed up for. But selfishly, we REALLY would love her to stay for even 6 months longer. And we see that this could have some advantages for her. Her country has been hard hit, and she's unlikely to be able to get a job when she returns, so she'd have to wait until next fall to enroll in graduate school (her plan). In the meantime she'll be stuck living with her family, and they are struggling financially due to the current crisis.

We are currently paying her a stipend of $300, up from $200, due to the circumstances. In addition, we'd of course offer her a ticket home for a visit when and if travel restrictions are lifted, as well as extra paid time off to go home for up to a month. What else can we do to make this seriously worth her while? I imagine that host families are offering major extension bonuses right now, and major signing bonuses. What neighborhood do you think is called for to really get her attention and make this fair? Honestly, we're over a bit of a barrel, so while we're not made of money, I'd pay almost anything. But I want to know what others think.

AuPairs cannot leave the country in their 2nd year and come back. Visa rules.

I'd offer a 3k signing bonus at a bare minimum.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t offer anything extra because I wouldn’t want them to feel pressured. You don’t want a 2nd year who doesn’t want to be here. Ask me how I know.

Once they accept, give them anything you want.

[Anonymous]

THey can leave in their second year and come back - I have taken all of mine out of the country on vacation in their second year, they just need to have a renewed visa and DS form.

I'd ask her if there is anything that you could do to make her extension feel like the right decision -- extra time/$ for school maybe?

[Anonymous]

She has to return to her country before the visa expires if she’s going to renew it. If she can’t due to travel restrictions, she won’t be able to re-enter the US during her second year. This may be a huge factor to her, since it could extend the time that she hasn’t seen her family, but you have no control over it.

As for normal perks for extending APs: paying the extension fee, paying/getting their taxes done for them, letting them know (and paying) a completion bonus if work/attitude stays great through the extension, relaxing rules about where they can take the car, paying more for gas/Uber/metro, taking them out dinner with the family more (pre-covid), special tickets to take a friend to a concert, less weekend hours, less weeknight hours, schedule is more set with fewer changes, etc.

It all depends on what your AP values. I’ve heard of all of the above, and some were more successful than others. The most useful to family and AP seem to be the end-of-extension bonus and paying the extension fee and taxes.

[Anonymous]

Our AP extended without a bonus or an increase in pay. Here, she has her own apartment, her own car, a job, and she's taking a lot of classes, and a set schedule. At home, she would have to live with her parents, would not have a car, would not be able to take a lot of classes, and may or may not have a job. We said we would pay for her to go home for a visit when she can travel again - we have taken her on several vacations and work trips already, so will hopefully get to do more domestic travel. Our agency doesn't make the AP pay an extension fee.

[Anonymous]

Ours extended. WE had decided before the pandemic, and honestly thought she would change her mind, but she stayed! I think in her case, her country is not any better than the US at responding so she either feels unsafe her and gets paid, or goes back home and doesn't have work or school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She has to return to her country before the visa expires if she’s going to renew it. If she can’t due to travel restrictions, she won’t be able to re-enter the US during her second year. This may be a huge factor to her, since it could extend the time that she hasn’t seen her family, but you have no control over it.

As for normal perks for extending APs: paying the extension fee, paying/getting their taxes done for them, letting them know (and paying) a completion bonus if work/attitude stays great through the extension, relaxing rules about where they can take the car, paying more for gas/Uber/metro, taking them out dinner with the family more (pre-covid), special tickets to take a friend to a concert, less weekend hours, less weeknight hours, schedule is more set with fewer changes, etc.

It all depends on what your AP values. I’ve heard of all of the above, and some were more successful than others. The most useful to family and AP seem to be the end-of-extension bonus and paying the extension fee and taxes.

That's not true, she can renew it, anytime during her second year. The only rule is that she can't come back without a renewed visa, but whether she renew it after her visa expired or not is irrelevant. Agencies only advice you to send your AP home before because then it guarantees she can come back if they refuse her visa (in reality it doesn't because as soon as you apply for a new visa if that one is refused it cancels out your original visa as well).

[Anonymous]

Ours is extending and in the process of interviewing. She is done with us in August.
She was offered 3k to go to a family end of June. Other families fees +1k seems standard.
She has turned them all down. Has very specific ages/number of kids and California only requirements.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ours is extending and in the process of interviewing. She is done with us in August.
She was offered 3k to go to a family end of June. Other families fees +1k seems standard.
She has turned them all down. Has very specific ages/number of kids and California only requirements.

Very helpful, thanks. What are they offering as far as stipend, and any other perks?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ours is extending and in the process of interviewing. She is done with us in August.
She was offered 3k to go to a family end of June. Other families fees +1k seems standard.
She has turned them all down. Has very specific ages/number of kids and California only requirements.

Very helpful, thanks. What are they offering as far as stipend, and any other perks?

Don’t know about stipend.
But with us she has private suite/bath and her own car; gym membership and iPhone 11 unlimited plan. She won’t down grade, that is for sure.
We pay 200 per week, and with covid she work 30 hours a week. Pre-covid she was max 20 a week, no weekends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ours is extending and in the process of interviewing. She is done with us in August.
She was offered 3k to go to a family end of June. Other families fees +1k seems standard.
She has turned them all down. Has very specific ages/number of kids and California only requirements.

Very helpful, thanks. What are they offering as far as stipend, and any other perks?

Don’t know about stipend.
But with us she has private suite/bath and her own car; gym membership and iPhone 11 unlimited plan. She won’t down grade, that is for sure.
We pay 200 per week, and with covid she work 30 hours a week. Pre-covid she was max 20 a week, no weekends.

Thanks so much. PP here. We offer all that (except the iphone 11) and with covid we have upped stipend too. in general we're a considerate and generous host family but i am gathering info because i don't to offer way too much (in part because then we'll attract people who may not feel a strong match with us) but nor do i want to offer too little and be shut out.

[Anonymous]

For the first time in recent memory (or ever) CCAP has more host families than AP candidates. It will be very competitive for any AP, extending or not.

[Anonymous]

Ours is leaving July 30th and we are exiting the program. She has been interviewing and many are offering a true hourly wage (10 seems standard) and a signing bonus. She definitely does not want the DC area. Competition between families is fierce. She is down to 2 families. One in Florida and one in Colorado. Both are offering dedicated car, nice living quarters and a signing bonus of $2500.

I advise her to milk them for as much as she can. There are so many families looking. We are giving her the glowing reference she deserves.