Hello,
I have a friend that just took a job as a live in nanny.
she took care of my kid so i know how great she is.
I have a bad feeling that the family is taking advantage and not giving her
things that to me sound so normal.
But i don't know, i have no experience with this.
it's bothering me a lot.
If you know more about what should be the working conditions of a live in nanny,please PM me.
Thanks,
Sharon

I don't really see why the information should be by PM. The great thing about this forum is that everyone gets a chance to see what others say on a certain subject and can then add their bit. Sometimes it is also useful info for other members in future - especially if someone with a good memory and remembers that we've covered the subject before.

Sadly Au-Pairs are very often misused - and not just in CH. I know many Swiss girls who were used as 'skivvies' in the UK- and all over the world.
There are very strict guidelines, but they are often ignored.
Nannies are a very different kettle of fish - and in the UK at least, should be NNEB qualified. Again guidelines are very clear - and again often ignored.
On the other hand, in the UK, and especially in London- Nannies are very very picky and hugely expensive indeed- supply and demand rules the day.

The titles 'nanny' and 'au pair' are also used to describe many other things. Sharonbill, what do do mean by 'nanny' - is this person qualified (NNEB equivalent) or not. Nannies do not do any housework, only cook for the children, and their hours are limited. They are entitled to paid holidays and social/pension contributions, like any other employees. Sadly many 'misused' 'nannies/au pairs' keep quiet about their conditions as their situation is not always legal.

Nannies can & do do housework; it all depends on what is negotiated before signing the work contract. I do however agree with you that many nannies are overworked & underpaid for what they do.

Are we talking qualified nannies here? Very very few NNEB equivalent in the UK, and especially London, will agree to housework as part of contract (tidying up toys at the end of the day being the exception).

I am an au pair so if that is the kind of 'nanny' about whom you are looking for information I can tell you how it is where I am if that's helpful - just let me know

We are not in London. Anything can be agreed upon before signing & if both parties are happy then why not?

edit: sorry forgot to add. This does include qualified nannies, fully trained, employed through a reputable agency & paid a proper wage.

Lou, I agree, why not if it is clear from the start and as per contract. In London though, where supply and demand don't match, qualified Nanny salaries are very high - and they won't take any job that requires housework.

How much do people pay for a qualified live-in nanny? and for live-out?

Guys, i think this is getting a little off track - the question was about being taken advantage of, and about the working conditions.

So I guess we have decided that "nannys" and "au pairs" can do housework if this has been agreed upon.

How else can the "childcare person" be taken advantage of?

Without further elaboration from the OP, we can only guess...

I assume anything outside the contract has to be mutually agreed. If it is in the contract, then it is part of her job?

How can a nanny be taking advantage of?
if the family promise to make working permits, but after more then a month there is still nothing.
spring on her at the last minute to stay at night so they can go out, also if the day after is her day off, and she made plans to go. working more then 12-13h a day, cant use the car they told her she would have, my main concern is that she has no life and they think its okey. she has no legal status, and no time to lerne French, so she will be stuck...

She is being taken advantage of. The family are taking the p1ss quite frankly especialyl since she has no work permit. In this situation she can get into a whole lot of trouble with the authorites. Even is she was fully legal they are still taking advantage. Is she actually getting paid & if so is tax & social deductions being taken care of?

I personally would not start working before the working permit was in my hand.

But as you say it's not fair for the family to make her work more hours than agreed. Has she singed a contract with the family? Things like babysitting should be included there, my contract always specified how much notice I have to be given for babysitting. That allowed me to have a life, to study. At the end of the day we all knew what the expectations were and of course in cases of emergency I would work more but be given time off the next day or have longer holidays.

To be honest if I was your friend I would start looking for a new job.
Wish her all the best!

This happens again and again, sadly. How can she look for another job as she hasn't got a permit? It is a common form of exploitation of young women brought here on false pretenses. They daren't complain because they know their position is illegal - and often the so called employers actually take their passport away, as they say they need it to arrange papers! Does anybody have any idea what she can do and of organisations she can approach for help?

In the London area a qualified nanny is about £32.000 per year living ou + social security, etc, no housework and strict hours.

if she has no permit then the family employing her is also breaking the law and would be in a lot more trouble then she would, if they don't pull there finger out all she needs to do is report them.

I recommend that your friend goes and registers with the kreisburo (or french speaking equivalent) as soon as possible. That will prompt the family to do something and get your friend out of a tricky situation.

Whatever the family is doing comes second to sorting out the legal status of your friend first. Without sorting this first, your friend will be in a lot of trouble.

Once that is sorted then she can start with a contract of employment etc, and try to sort that out.

It is of course possible that your friend will stir up trouble and lose her job, but that is better than being taken advantage of I think, and I don't think it's much worse than the current situation.

Good advice. Sadly though, many girls just to not have the confidence of courage to do that, and have no money or support to back them up. Going 'back home' is not an option as they have no money to buy ticket, and anyway, 'back home' maybe a lot worse. I cannot possible fathom what it is like to be trapped like this and can only try to imagine. Remember Gadafi's son who beat his servants- and what happened next when Geneva Police interfered? Many of these 'abusers' have CD immunity, etc.
But yes, I totally agree, they HAVE to be challenged.
Good luck to your friend.

this is just what i'm looking for...
basically put me in your friends shoes apart from i have a work permit and i'm an au pair..
So i work for two families which i don't think is legal because 1 family works 100 and the other the mum doesn't actually work so therefore she's actually just to lazy to clean her freaking house herself and i'm feeling miss used and treated
plus they paid half for one laguage class that's it i though it was that they pay for all my laguage classes and hey do not even pay for my travel from one house to another which in a month is quite exspencive
can someone help meee..?

It is simply your friend needs to up and leave them with no notice, it is not like she won't get another job....there is plenty of work for a nanny...

I agree. There are jobs advertised on the forum and some of them with immediate start. Maybe those families are willing to apply for your friend's permit. She should sort out some interviews IMO. Again good luck!