What is a Host Family?
Below details correspond to the original concept of an au pair, who lives in and works a 25 hour week. However, we offer an EXTREMELY flexible service and can offer au pairs for hours that suit yours and your children’s timetables. Please contact info@aupairinandalucia.com for more information and to discuss your needs.
A Host Family is a family that reaches an agreement with a young foreign student named au pair, to receive him or her in their house for a previously agreed period. The au pair takes care of the children, talks to them in English and helps with simple domestic tasks. In return, the family offers housing, full board, and weekly pocket money and treats him/her as a member of the family, with the same rights and obligations as all other family members.
Whenever possible the au pair will have meals with the family and will participate in their daily activities. Families must take into account that au pairs do not enter in the category of employee or student, but have a special status between both concepts.
Responsibilities as a host family
You commit to pay a weekly remuneration of at least €70 for the 25 hour working week accomplished by the live in au pair You also pay for the au pair’s accommodation, meals and laundering expenses.
For live out au pairs you commit to pay an hourly rate with a minimum of 6 hours work a week
- We suggest the agreed sum be paid every week, so that the au pair can enjoy a greater flow of liquidity assets. However, the salary must be paid at least every month (it is a basic salary corresponding to 25 work hours per week, not more than 5 hours per day worked).
- The au pair must be provided with a separate room that can be locked, has natural light, can be heated and is equipped with all the everyday furnishings needed to make his/her stay a comfortable one.
- Meals should be healthy, and correspond to what the host family eats.
Lessons – You should allow the au pair at least 3 hours of free time during the day so that they may attend language lessons. A convenient time can be agreed between you and the au pair, be it mornings or afternoons. Bear in mind most language classes either start at 9am or 2pm.
Treatment – We ask that you treat the au pair as one of the family.
Weekly work hours – Work should not exceed 25 hours per week and not more than 5 hours per day, with two full days off even if extra hours are agreed. If more hours are to be worked then extra euros should be paid by the hour (for live in au pairs this rate should be agreed between you and the au pair, for live out, it will be based on our minimum €8 an hour). Two nights babysitting are allowed.
The au pair is entitled to meals during his or her time off. If you are away you must either leave food for the au pair or add extra money to that week’s allowance. The au pair should also have all public holidays off. If these days cannot be given off the au pair is entitled to another day off as compensation.
Holidays – The au pair is entitled to 1 week every 6 months of holiday. The time will be specified by the host family, taking the au pairs wishes into account, so that normal family life is not disturbed. However, the au pair can ask his or her family for a holiday of a few days at any time. If the au pair has agreed to come to Spain for less than 6 months, the length of the holiday he or she is entitled to will be in proportion to time period he/she is staying. One week paid holiday should be given if the au pair has been with the host family for more than six months.
Accidents – it is recommended that the au pair takes out health insurance. We also recommend that you take out additional car insurance to cover the au pair, if the au pair is going to drive a vehicle belonging to you.
Termination deadline – The first 30 days of employment constitute a probationary period, during which you can terminate the contract, giving a minimum of three days notice. Thereafter, if the contract is to be terminated, it must be with a minimum of two weeks notice. The notice shall be given in writing. During the transitory period, you shall continue to offer the au pair the payment formerly agreed upon.
Travel Costs –The au pair is responsible for all travel costs to Spain. The au pair should also ensure that they have sufficient money to pay for the return journey home if an emergency arises.
Reception – Au Pair in Andalucía asks you do everything within your power to meet the au pair in person at the airport upon arrival in Spain. If that cannot be arranged, we ask you cover the cost of the taxi or train ride to your home.
Rest –It is recommended that you allow the au pair at least one days rest following their journey (not included in the holiday balance) so that he or she can recover from travelling.
Main duties – The au pair’s main duties are related to the care of the children and practicing English with the children. He or she may also be asked to perform light everyday domestic chores but they should not be asked to carry out heavy household tasks.
There are families, which might require the au pair to do less housework and take more care of the children and others to do more housework and take less care of the children.
Childcare can include:
Dressing and feed them
Cooking for them
Changing Nappies
taking and collecting them from school
Helping them with homework
Playing with them
Bathing them and getting them ready for bed
Introducing the children in activities that stimulate their growth and development and English
Household duties can include:
Help to keep the house clean and tidy
Dusting and vacuuming
Doing the washing and ironing
Preparing breakfast and simple meals for the children
Tiding up the kitchen (washing dishes, wiping down surfaces etc.)
Taking care of the house, animals and plants when the Family is out
The au pair should NEVER be expected to:
Act as a cleaner and thoroughly clean the house and its rooms
Do gardening
Clean the family car
Cook dinner or lunch for the Family
Serve the Family
.Work more than 5 hours a day unless agreed beforehand
You must have always in mind that an au pair is not a servant. She/he must be treated as a member of the family, with respect and flexibility. By treating the au pair as a member of the family all major problems should be avoided.
SUPPORT
We understand that adjusting to having an au pair can sometimes be difficult. For that reason Au Pair in Andalucía offers constant support and advice throughout the au pair’s stay to ensure you both have a fantastic experience.