The following aims to explain to au pairs, planning to come to Germany, exactly what an au pair job here entails.
Host families in Germany should also read through the following text carefully.
In Germany there are both female and male au pairs. The majority is female, yet increasingly, families with sons or very active children are engaging male au pairs.
An au pair is a young person from abroad between 18 and 24 years old.
An au pair from the original European Union countries may also be up to the age of 30 years.
The au pair is taken in by the host family not as cleaning or home help but is, as it were, a new family member for a set period. This means that, the au pair is integrated in the family life; takes part in common meals, activities, celebrations and so on.
The object of the au pair sojourn is the improvement of the au pair’s knowledge of the language and the broadening of his/her acquaintance of the host country.
The duties of an au pair consist of helping out with light housework and looking after the children. The share of housework should not exceed 50 % of total working hours.
The au pair is supposed to look after the children of the host family responsibly and lovingly, to play with them, to accompany them on their various out-of-house activities, to engage them in stimulating and constructive activity and the like.
The question of what is meant by light housework is sometimes not easy to answer. As a rule of thumb, however, one can say that an au pair is not a substitute for a cleaning lady. Light housework would include, for example, vacuuming, tidying up, keeping the children’s rooms tidy, ironing the children’s clothes, helping to prepare meals and so on.
Light housework does not include, for example, cleaning the windows of the whole house, clearing out the cellar, tidying up the garage, cleaning the rubbish bins, cleaning the host family’s car and so on.
Moreover, nursing and caring for the sick or elderly is not part of the au pair’s responsibilities.
The au pair’s working hours are 30 hours per week and may not exceed 6 hours per day, including babysitting hours, of course.
Should a one-off occasion require that the au pair work overtime, this time must be compensated for with more free time for the au pair at the next soonest occasion.
Working hours do not include looking after one’s own affairs such as, cleaning one’s (au pair) room.
Distribution of the working hours will normally be discussed by the au pair and host family, whereby the time schedule of the host family plays a decisive role.
The au pair is entitled to at least one free day per week. This free day must fall on a Sunday at least once a month.
The au pair is entitled to four free evenings a week.
The host family will allow the au pair to attend a language course, to practise his/her religion, attend and participate in cultural events and excursions.
For a sojourn of 12 months, the au pair is entitled to a total of 4 weeks paid vacation. If the au pair works shorter hours, he/she is entitled to 2 free days per au pair month.
Should the host family take the au pair with it on holiday, the au pair will account this time as vacation only if requested to undertake inessential tasks and if no obligation to be present at all times is required. If, however, the au pair is required during the holiday break to look after the children, baby-sit or prepare meals, then this time will naturally be accounted for as normal working hours.
Should the host family leave the au pair alone at home during the family vacation, the au pair will not seek employment with other families, neighbours, acquaintances or any other third party.
Statutory holidays are essentially free or, if the help of the au pair is needed on such days, will be compensated for with free time.
The au pair may not pursue any other employment during his/her au pair sojourn.
The au pair will receive free board from the host family, share common meal times and the same meals as the host family.
In his/her free time, the au pair must have the opportunity to attend a language course and intellectually stimulating or cultural events. The costs for the language course and participation in events, excursions and the like will be carried by the au pair. Upon request, the host family may be willing to contribute to the costs of the course.
In accordance with RDAV guidelines, the host family will bear the travel costs to the next suitable language course for the au pair.
The au pair is entitled to an own room within the house or flat of the host family. The room has to have heating; be lockable; must receive enough normal daylight; be at least 8 m² and be adequately furnished.
At present, an au pair receives 260 Euro pocket money per month.
On arrival in Germany, the au pair should set up a Giro account into which the host family can pay the pocket money. It is recommended that the host family advance a week’s sum to the au pair on his/her arrival. The exact details of monthly payments can then be negotiated with the au pair at a later date.
It is the host family’s duty and responsibility to adequately insure the au pair for the cases of illness, pregnancy, birth and accidents. Please refer to the Insurance column in our Website.
In the case that the au pair falls ill, pocket money will be paid up till the end of the contract and up to an extension of a maximum 6 weeks.
The host family and au pair will agree to, and sign a written au pair contract, which will include all rights and responsibilities of both parties.
The au pair period ends on expiry date of the agreed contract.
If no notice period has been agreed in the contract, the au pair contract can only be resolved by mutual agreement. In most cases, the host family and au pair come to an agreement whereby the au pair may stay until a new host family is found.
An au pair may be dismissed without notice if serious reasons are raised. The grounds for dismissal are however, in this context, somewhat narrow. For example, a burnt dinner is no reason for dismissal at short notice.
Both the host family and the au pair have to be fully aware that cultural differences, which need to be dealt with together with a common understanding and goodwill, may surface. It is not seldom that the au pair suffers an initial culture shock. The host family should exercise patience and allow the au pair to settle in. It is not advisable, for example, to expect the au pair to cope with the children on his/her own 2 days after arrival. Rather, you as the host family should show the au pair around and explain the running of the household. There will be enough general queries that will need to be answered.
Sometimes, on arrival, the au pair may give the impression that his/her language knowledge is inadequate or that comprehension may not be possible. The host family should again exercise patience and remember that a lot of au pairs are nervous at the beginning and may be too shy or afraid to speak. They are simply afraid of making a linguistic error and/or making a laughing stock of themselves. But give them a few days, and you will find that they soon get over their timidity and can, after all, speak the language quite proficiently.
