Hello,

I would like to ask you how much I should charge the following family:

After I posted a while ago a topic about my availability to make an exchange as "aupair"/service-provider either unpaid as part time, or paid for programs that exceeds more than few hours a day, it seems like families are looking for young men when more work is expected.

I received an offer to work minimum 30 hours per week, where I will mainly take care of a person with special needs plus to look after few more kids occasionally, driving, cooking. On top of that to do all the housekeeping. The family works shifts so flexibility is also expected and also sole charge sometimes.


After I've read this topic where an aupair girls is offered more entitlements that I have received in my first experience as housekeeper&nanny, I would like to ask you how much should I charge this family now or if I should decline their offer ?



1. Money paid by this family for this work is what you describe here as pocket money. Its still a sum higher than what aupairs receive in some other countries but this work is more than aupair.
2. Food and accommodation - yes (Meals compensation for days off - I didn't talk about that yet, but I will)
--
3. Utility costs ( - small - I pay my own phone bill and I don't waste)
4. No paid vacation.
5. No health insurance paid by the family, I arrange that for myself.
6. No travel-card paid by family, other that access to the car for which I pay petrol for my own journeys.
7. No language courses, I arrange my own free time.
8. No airfare or transport to get there paid by family
9. No small pleasures. (like to be taken to excursions)


How much would you charge or do you think its a fair rate ?

What you are describing is not an Au Pair position. An Au Pair lives as a member of the family, including excursions, 'small pleasures and treats', does not do any heavy housework, and only has sole charge for about 15 hrs a week and has language classes paid for + Insurance.

The job of a carer, housekkeper, driver, cook, housekeeper for 30+ hours is a totally different thing and should be paid accordingly. And the employer has to legally pay for health/accident Insurance.

How much are they offering?

IF you were an au pair, here is a guideline.

I find it to be reasonably accurate- for an au pair.

Watch out for the health insurance part, i think they should be paying that, costs an absolute minimum of around 200.- a month, but if you pay so little then you will need to pay a lot if you need to go to the docs.

Although this is seems on the surface an interesting proposition it is rife with problems. The issue of your work permit still is up in the air but that's another topic.

Are you going to live with the family and exchange work for room & board? You know you can't be classed as an "au pair" and really that's a lot of work that is being expected. Buying health insurance is compulsory in Switzerland. If this is the intention your best bet would be work out how much room & board costs, how many hours a week you will be expected to work, etc.

You should be charging 30CHF per hour. So let's say you add up all your hours at 30CHF an hour then you deduct the agreed upon room and board and they pay you what is left over which you then pay your taxes and contributions from, although technically you have to pay taxes on the value of the benefits too...

So lets say you work for 30hrx30chfx4wks=3600 a month but you agree that 1200 (or whatever) covers room and board then the family pays you 2400 per month, with any other hours @30 per hr.

Now... The issue (one of them) is that if you are classed as an "employee" your wages are hovering close to poverty level and that can cause some problems.

These are things that need to be considered. You probably need to get some professional help with the plan... An accountant? Tax advisor? Lawyer? Don't know.

New laws have come into operation in 2008 to fight against this sort of illegal employment. There are National laws tot hat effect, but also local K/Cantonal laws and regulations too. Which K/Canton will that job be in?
The employers face heavy fines and even prison btw.

Regulations also depend on whether you are from the EU or not. Au Pairs and house employees/carers have different regulations.

thank you very much for all your responses. I was mainly interested to know how much I should be left in hand for 30 hours per week work or how much I should charge per hour.

A man most often is not employed as simply aupair, so that's why I said I will work as service provider, and I can sort all my papers out with the help of the employer, have no worries about that, I've never done something illegally. I'm aware of the purchasing power parity, so thats why I'm asking on this forum.

30-35CHF per hour, 3600-4200 per month is what you should charge.

They have to declare you and give you a proper contract and have to give you paid holidays (4 weeks per year). In Vaud the salary for someone not qualified is 3000 or 17 CHF per hour. Are you qualified or do you have experience? They, not you, would be in real trouble with the authority for employing you illegally. As said, each K/Canton does have different laws as well as national laws, and it depends to some extent on if you are EU or not. Hope it all works out.

I've just re-checked the law. As a house employee they do not have to insure you apparently- but make it clear to you that you have to take health/accident insurance according to the Vaud website (which is very expensive about 350CHF per month for basic insurance).

@miniMia This is the answer that I needed to know to answer the question. thank you!

@Odile I appreciate when someone else mention all that is required to know. I'm an EU citizen, have studied many types of law including the laws in the universe or that any other guys make. What a wonderful discipline! Knowing all the laws allows me to offer services in the whole universe.

These topics were started by me, but this family contacted me first because they've seen my profile somewhere else.

Be aware of this difference:

If you CHARGE them, you are selling them a service. You write an invoice, and they pay the invoice. You are operating as a company, have to keep books, pay taxes, insurance, social security, etc.

If they EMPLOY you, then you are an employee. The pay you and give you a pay slip. You are not a company. You file a tax return as well (of pay tax at source). You need health insurance, but the employer must pay accident insurance, and half of the social security.

So be very aware of what you are doing:
Are you a business selling services, and working for yourself?
Or are you an employee working for someone else?

Example:
I have a cleaning lady. I pay her wages. I pay accident insurance. I pay social security for her. She earns a wage. She does not charge me anything.

I also have a family that does child care for me. They write me an invoice. I pay the invoice. That's all I pay. They sort out their own accident insurance and their social security.

Both options are 100% legal. Just be aware which one you are wanting to do!

As far as I know, this probably is illegal by Swiss law. It is often done by construction companies to avoid social security paiments.