Category: Au Pairs

Low Pay Commission Release Food & Board report

The Low Pay Commission have just released their review of Food & Board rates report.

The review was commissioned by Minister for Employment and Small Business Pat Breen T.D. Continue reading Low Pay Commission Release Food & Board report

Au Pair Working Hours in Ireland

Traditionally the role of an au pair would have involved between 20 and 25 hours work per week, with occasional paid babysitting duties. However in early 2016 a Workplace Relations Commission ruling recently recognised au pairs as employees, which instilled on them, the same rights and expectations as Continue reading Au Pair Working Hours in Ireland

Au Pair house rules and guidelines

Establishing written house rules and guidelines is a very important part in the hiring process of your au pair. Establishing rules and guidelines can help both you and your au pair avoid misunderstandings, and sources of possible conflict.

Rules and guidelines will vary from home to home, but the following are some you might want to address:

  • Set a day-by-day timetable, including start time, finish time, and what days the au pair has off
  • Babysitting – how often it would be expected, and is it included in the au pair’s base pay. If it is not included in their base pay, how much will you be paying your au pair for the service
  • Au pair wages – when are they paid, what rate the au pair is being paid, and how frequently they will receive their wages
  • Curfew – if you have one, make sure you mention it. If your au pair is not spending the night in your house, by what time do they have to they let you know
  • Are Smoking and drinking permitted, if so when and where
  • Phones – important phone numbers (creche, doctor, parents, neighbours, etc.) should be stored on the au pairs phone, the phone should be kept charged, with credit at all times
  • Establish rules that address the use of phones during working hours and mealtimes
  • Computer use – when and where computers can be used, are your children permitted to use the computer with your au pair
  • Au pair car use – when your au pair can use the car, can it be used during the au pair’s time off, and who is responsible for replacing petrol
  • Cleanliness – address how your au pair’s room should be kept, how frequently they should hoover, change bed-sheets, etc.
  • Cleanliness in common areas such as the bathroom, kitchen or living room – what are the standards expected, and who is expected to clean up after your children
  • If you recycle make sure your au pair understands the process
  • Children’s eating and sleeping times
  • What times children need to be dressed by, and what time they should be in bedclothes by
  • Children’s important activities and appointments, when they start, when they end, and where they are
  • Treats for the children – for example sweets and television, are these allowed – if so, how much and how often, and on what conditions

Continue reading Au Pair house rules and guidelines

Safety Tips for Au Pairs

We became aware last week, of the horrific experience an Irish au pair, allegedly suffered at the hands of her employer in France.

Newspapers reported the au pair was given a spiked drink, she said she began to feel dizzy, and said she remembered her employer kissing her, before going on to rape her.

You can read more about it here.

This is the sort of nightmare scenario no au pair ever wants to find themselves in. Thankfully it rarely happens, in the 10 years this site has been running, we can’t recall anything like it ever having happened before. And, while it is impossible to say it won’t happen again, you can take some very simple steps to make it less likely. Continue reading Safety Tips for Au Pairs

Au Pairs for the Elderly

We first blogged about elderly / senior au pairs about 5 years ago.

At the time we were just starting to see elderly au pairs emerge as a viable option for caring for the elderly. Now 5 years later, they have become an established and popular home care option, and a fantastic alternative to a nursing home.

What is an elderly/senior au pair?

An elderly au pair, or senior au pair as they are also known, is an individual who provides companionship, light home care, and other assisted living duties for a person, or in some cases a couple, in their own home. Continue reading Au Pairs for the Elderly

6 Tips That Will Help You Succeed When Interviewing For An Au Pair Position

[The following is a guest posting from Andrea Roman of
DublinAuPairs.com]

Most Au Pairs are nervous about the first video call – interview with their future host family. Meeting the family for the first time as well as talk to them in a foreign language can be as exciting as overwhelming. That’s why it is important to prepare the interview: the more prepared you are, the less nervous you will feel. Also, you will be ready to answer all type of questions.

Here are 6 helpful tips that will help you get in the right mood for the interview and be prepared to meet and delight your host family. From preparing for the most common questions, to practicing your responses, or planning some questions to ask the family. Continue reading 6 Tips That Will Help You Succeed When Interviewing For An Au Pair Position

Au Pairs – seven steps to building the perfect Au Pair CV

There is a lot of competition out there for the best jobs. Your CV is the first opportunity you have, to make an impression on your future host family, so why not make it a good one.

Here on AuPairIreland.ie we see a lot of CVs, so we get an idea of what works, and what doesn’t.

Follow these suggestions to build a CV that will impress.

  • Edit your CV to match the job – don’t be afraid to rewrite your CV for each job you apply for. Highlight any experience you have, that is required for the role you’re applying for.
  • Include a photo – but if you do include a photo make sure it’s the right type. Ideally showing you with children, and definitely not showing you partying!
  • Irish references – it’s a big plus if you have an Irish references. If you do, make sure you highlight it in your CV.
  • Irish work experience – the same as with Irish references. If you do have Irish work experience make the most of it, and highlight it.
  • Fill out all the CV sections – those sections were added for a reason! Employers want to know that information, so don’t leave then empty.
  • Keep it to the point – avoid writing long, rambling paragraphs. Write about the important stuff, leave out the rest.
  • Include a cover letter – write about what makes you suitable for that particular job. Show interest. Make direct reference to the advert to show you’ve read it.

Au Pair Salary Calculator

This Au Pair salary calculator, meant for guidance only, calculates gross wages – it is valid for all domestic workers in Ireland, at least 18 years of age, being paid the minimum wage for their experience level. Last updated January 1st 2017.






Information provided by this calculator is for illustrative purposes only. No responsibility is taken by AuPairIreland.ie for any errors, or for any loss, however occasioned, to any person by reliance on this calculator.

Au Pair Duties and Responsibilities

Because there is no legal definition of the role of an au pair in Ireland, there are no set rules relating to the tasks and responsibilities of an au pair. However, if using international guidelines as the standard, the day-to-day tasks your au pair will perform, should only relate to the care of your children.

If you expect your au pair to perform other duties, besides childcare, you should list them in the job description, during the job interview and, most importantly, in the job contract.

Au Pair duties and responsibilities include:

  • Getting children out of bed, and dressed
  • Washing, ironing and folding the children’s clothes
  • Housework related to the children – cleaning their room, making their beds, tidying up their toys, etc
  • Preparing food, assisting with feeding the children, and cleaning up after their meals
  • Entertaining the children – playing with them, taking them to the park, etc.
  • Bringing children to school, helping with their homework, bringing them to after-school activities
  • Bathing the children and helping to put them to bed
  • Running errands related to the children
  • Occasional babysitting

Agreeing responsibilities, with your au pair, that are clearly defined in your au pair’s contract is the best way of avoiding disagreement and conflicts at a later stage, and are in both parties interests.