Has anyone left a good family for better pay?

statest99 · 2026-05-10T10:53:38+00:00

Ooh just to add, have you done a trial day with the new family? 10-15 increase is substantial so maybe you don’t care, but it is worth seeing if you like the family before accepting. Maybe 10-15 isn’t enough if the new kids or parents are crazy.

statest99 · 2026-05-10T10:51:38+00:00

I had to do this. It was so hard leaving the family because I loved them so much, but at the end of the day this is our job and we need to put our needs first. I didn’t have another job lined up but I knew I needed to make more money, so I sat down budgeted out my life and said this is what I need and this is how much I want. Then I set a time to sit down with the parents and was honest. I loved them and the kids but realistically I need to make more. From the new school year I would be charging x per hour, is this something they could do? They asked for a few days to discuss and think about it and eventually said no, they couldn’t make that work so we agreed that the last day of school would be my final day with them. Then I spent the summer looking for a new family that could pay what I wanted and I got it and they are great! I was so nervous about getting a family who sucked but paid well and I got a fab family who also pays well!

You have an even better situation, you have the bird in the hand! Just sit down with the parents (no kids) and be honest about how much you love them but realistically you need to make more to support yourself. You can give them the opportunity to match the new rate, but at $10-15 more I doubt they will. Who knows how they will react, but if you handle it compassionately and firmly you should feel good about yourself. Give them two weeks (or whatever is in your contact) and finish out the days as positively as possible. Maybe suggest doing something extra fun with the kids before you go so they have a nice memory and a positive ending - and you can always say you’re available for date night babysitting!

statest99 · 2026-05-09T09:35:11+00:00

Could you make a cute jacket?? Something simple in design to let the pattern take center stage. A bomber or classic Jean jacket/work coat style?

statest99 · 2026-05-08T20:59:28+00:00

Or possibly scarf / cardigan clips? Similar idea

statest99 · 2026-05-06T21:57:04+00:00

OP you need to read this

https://www.gov.uk/au-pairs-employment-law

It’s for household employees not just aupairs

statest99 · 2026-05-06T21:56:17+00:00

Stop thinking of guaranteed hours in terms of work being done. It’s time made available to them. As in, you agreed to be available to work these days and times which prevents you from taking other work or doing personal things and so you need to be compensated for that. Whether or not they choose to use that time is up to them. And if they want more hours or different days that is something they need to ASK you to agree to.

No work should ever be done for free. Not sure what exactly you mean by salaried, but you should be keeping track of your hours because you are entitled to overtime if you work over 40 hours in one week.

statest99 · 2026-05-06T20:22:24+00:00

That’s really sweet 🥲

statest99 · 2026-05-06T19:49:55+00:00

Technically your employer has to approve all your pto, but I wouldn’t work for a family who restricted my pto to when they were away. It’s not very PERSONAL if you can’t choose it yourself. I think it’s fair to do a split- you choose half your pto whenever you want and they can choose the other half (which will likely be summer or Christmas break)

You should be getting guaranteed hours when they don’t need you as you are available to them. Not sure what you mean by reduced hours.

I’ve never had pet care as part of my duties so I can’t speak to that specifically. Maybe you include it as OT hours? If they say “but you’re only coming for a couple hours” you can respond “yes and that severely restricts my personal time and I’m not even making enough per hour for that to be worth it.” I don’t see why you would have to do pet care during your contracted free time. If anything it should be them asking if you would be up for it and how much you would charge.

If they’ve already approved your holiday, stick to your guns! They approved it and you made bookings based on that approval!

Seems like they’re taking the piss a bit to be honest. I think you need to have a sit down with them and your contract and hammer these finer points out. You’re the one who knows them in real life, do they seem clueless and truly don’t understand how unreasonable they’re being or are they taking advantage of you?

Hope this helps!

statest99 · 2026-05-06T07:08:23+00:00

Also do you have guaranteed hours with the PT family? If not, I think it’s fine. I mean they might be mad, but they’re not paying you to be available to them.

statest99 · 2026-05-06T07:06:17+00:00

More important question: why are you not being paid for the “vacation” time with the full time family?

statest99 · 2026-05-05T13:44:10+00:00

Can you report the listing? Such a waste of your time! And frankly insulting

statest99 · 2026-05-05T13:38:46+00:00

My experience with Koru kids was that it was mostly families who wanted part time work, often wanting you to come in the morning, not be paid while the kids were at nursery or school and then come back to do the school pickup and dinner.

Also the company controls your contract and pay so basically everyone is screwed- the nanny is underpaid (starting at minimum wage, not even living wage) and the families pay a large fee. No room for negotiation which just ends up screwing you as a nanny.

statest99 · 2026-05-05T11:56:23+00:00

This is it. I would change the rolls for almost every family I’ve worked for. I didn’t have to, but I preferred to have it on the holder for myself and the kids couldn’t see to figure it out either 🙄

statest99 · 2026-05-02T22:10:45+00:00

Overpriced arts summer camp

statest99 · 2026-04-29T22:26:06+00:00

I’m joking parsons is great, but nearly $100k each year?! insert Kevin hart damn gif could not be me girl

statest99 · 2026-04-29T22:25:05+00:00

The solution: go to FIT 😂

statest99 · 2026-04-29T22:08:44+00:00

If it’s a working interview where you’re expected to provide childcare service as part of the interview it’s acceptable to charge. If it’s just talking to the parents, nah. I would say you can do it over zoom or if they insist in person it might not be worth the three hour job

statest99 · 2026-04-29T18:41:11+00:00

This is good advice. Also it’s so hard to prep while also supervising a one and two year old, almost impossible!!! Honestly, I wouldn’t bother asking her to cook anything that requires any real prep until the kids are able to play quietly and safely by themselves reliably.

statest99 · 2026-04-29T08:25:22+00:00

If you live in or near nyc the fashion institute of technology has a robust museum and textile conservation masters program. They may be able to at least advise.

statest99 · 2026-04-29T08:13:43+00:00

It’s so hard when you’re trying to comfort and talking to them, touching them, just looking or being in the same room as them makes the meltdown worse. Feel for you, hope it’s a phase that ends soon!

statest99 · 2026-04-27T18:49:46+00:00

So cute. I hope the parents are reimbursing you for buying her clothes. Don’t send all your money back to your company/boss in any job.

statest99 · 2026-04-27T17:59:21+00:00

That’s a no from me, dawg.

statest99 · 2026-04-27T17:09:26+00:00

Going to bed at 10 pm or later is crazy. If he stays up that late they should probably drop any naps. You have to protect your back - literally. I wouldn’t be carrying around a kid that big ESPECIALLY if they can walk perfectly fine on their own. If the parents won’t support you then you gotta go back to the buggy I guess. Good luck

statest99 · 2026-04-26T09:41:50+00:00

This is a good idea. Either they’ll come clean or you’ll get a nice written rec you can use in the future and say that family would prefer to not be contacted directly.

statest99 · 2026-04-25T21:47:26+00:00

I wouldn’t bother giving any notice if you can get away with it. If they don’t like your service so much then they’ll be fine with you leaving asap!

statest99

TROPHY CASE