Know your hours.
Know your worth.

Straight, sourced answers to the questions au pairs and host families actually ask — hours, pay, overtime, contracts, time off and kilometres.

How many hours should an au pair really work?

Au pair working hours compared across the USA, UK, Germany, Netherlands, South Africa and more — plus what actually counts as working time.

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How much should you be paid as an au pair?

What au pairs are actually paid, how pocket money differs from a wage, and how to work out whether your offer is fair.

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Are you actually getting paid for overtime?

How au pair overtime works, when extra hours must be paid, and why most au pairs never claim what they are owed.

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What belongs in your au pair contract?

The clauses every au pair contract should contain — hours, pay, time off, duties and notice — and why a handshake is not enough.

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Time off, sick days and leave: what you're entitled to

Days off, sick leave and holiday entitlement for au pairs, and how to agree them properly before you start.

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Are you claiming the kilometres you drive?

If you drive your own car for the family you should be reimbursed. How to agree a rate, log trips and claim every kilometre.

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How to talk to your host family about pay and hours

A practical script for raising pay, hours and overtime with your host family without it becoming a confrontation.

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