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.

That's exactly what we did. She seemed appreciative.

We are so relieved and paid a big bonus to thank her for staying. I was really worried she would go home especially when the German government encouraged it.

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.

I am grateful too. We had a talk and she shared that she is getting a lot of pressure from home to come home immediately and her friends think she is crazy for staying in the U.S.--and, per another thread, a lot of her au pair friends have decided to leave. I hadn't realized how stressful the decision to stay has been for her, and I know it could change and I would respect that. I was already appreciative, but it helped me be doubly grateful understanding that she is getting huge pressure from her parents who are super worried about her--it is hard to do your job when you are under stresses here and from back home.

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.

I am incredibly grateful as well. We also doubled her salary.

Yes! I am so grateful for our Au Pair. She is wonderful and working from home without her would be a total mess. We are giving her a weekly bonus during this time of social distancing. I hope she will use it toward a really fun trip when this settles down.

Love our AP and that she is staying with our 3 kids. DH and i are both nurses; obviously still busy at work.

We also have a good one that is making things much easier, and taking it all in stride. Grateful

We are so very grateful! Our au pair is wonderful. I know this is still early and her attitude may change down the road, but right now she is taking it in strides.

Ours is also doing great! She has totally stepped up on the home schooling and keeping DS7 busy while I work -- she is going to get a big trip/bonus at the end of this!

100% grateful. It's letting us keep from losing our minds, and still be as productive as we can be with telework, etc.

Same here, really thankful for my AP right now. This is a real test for AP/HF relationship.

Me too! I am so grateful and was telling my au pair this last night. I am a healthcare worker and couldn't do my job well if I was worried about my kids. Anyone with ideas of nice things we can do for our au pairs who are sticking it out?

Surprised no one else has shared this sentiment. My AP usually watches my 10 month old DD. I work at home normally, so being at home now is no different. But now my 3.5 year old is also home, and no playdates/activities, so we are in uncharted territory. My AP has rolled with it and is an amazing help. I'm watching my friends try to WFH and handle their kids, it's impossible. So I am very grateful for my AP. I know all of her AP friends' jobs have significantly changed in the last few weeks. I am sure their HFs are grateful, too.

I realize not every AP situation is like this but I wanted to share a positive message in the midst of the complaints and worry...