The top 3 things you need to know before you au pair in Paris
After I decided to become an au pair here in Paris, my skin broke out for about a month straight. Why? Because there was there was so many sources telling me what I had to bring to get my visa, I was interviewing with 10-15 families, and I was about to move across the world.
So, if you are thinking about au pairing in Paris, here are five things you need to know before you go.
1. Paris and Ile de France (IDF) are not made equal
A bit of geography. Paris is almost a perfect circle and the road that goes around it is called the peripherique (peripheral). Parisians are sticklers about what is and isn’t Paris. If you’re from a suburb, you aren’t Parisian.
Paris is a part of Ile-de-France (IDF). IDF is one of the 18 administrative regions in France and is named the island of France because of the way the Seine, Oise, and Marne river cluster there.
When you are looking at au pairing in Paris, AuPair World will indicate where the family is from. It’s important you specificy where the family lives in IDF because they might be far outside Paris. I know some au pairs who thought they were moving to Paris and now live an hour outside Paris.
I also know au pairs who chose families who were outside of Paris because its hectic inside the city limits. It’s just a matter of preference, but one you have to be informed about to make.
2. Get paid what you are owed
Too many au pairs get taken advantage of because they don’t know the standards. You need to have your own room that is at least 9 square meters with one window. You should not work more than 25 hours a week (a bit more on this below). You should be paid at least €320 per month (more on this too).
These are the minimum requirements, but you need to know more.
- €320/month is the minimum set by the French government (aka, it also includes the countryside and small towns). If you are in Paris, you should be paid more because cost of living is higher.
- If the au pair does not live with the family, the family also needs to pay the au pair money for food. I’ve heard this needs to be at least €270 per month, but I wasn’t able to confirm it.
- Many families pay for the Navigo metro pass in addition to pocket money. This is €84 per month and you’ll definitely want it to explore Paris and the suburbs.
- Many families will also help pay for French classes or your flight to or from France. These are not mandatory, but it’s always worth negotiating. My first family paid half a semester of French classes and half of my flight to France.
- Track your hours. You are not supposed to work more than 25 hours per week, and if you do, then you should have a clause in your contract that states you get paid the average babysitting rate (8-12 euros per hour) for any additional time per week.
Don’t be afraid to hash out all these details (in detail) before signing the contract. If your host family only fills out the contract the government provides, I recommend creating another simple contract with details like these on them.
With the first family I worked for I only signed the government contract and felt a bit taken advantage of when they would spring babysitting on me last minute or I would work over 25 hours per week.
With my second family I made it a priority to outline those things in a separate contract. I know its awkward and can feel a bit icky, but I have pulled out the contract in order to protect myself, and and I’m glad it had all been in writing.
3. Know the term Chambre de Bonne
My first au pair family was a bit of a mess, in part because I lived in the same house as the family. I had to go through the children’s room to get to mine. It was only after talking to my friends and learning about what is standard in Paris that I realized most au pairs live separately from the families.
Many families who have au pairs also rent little studio apartments either in the same apartment complex or near by. These are called chambres de bonne and are typically on the top floor of the building and sometimes have a separate entrance. They are the old maid quarters. While they are much less glamorous than a regular apartment, I absolutely recommend finding a family that provides one for a few reasons.
- As much as families like to say their au pair is part of the family, I have yet to speak with an au pair who feels this is true. I’m sure they exist but the reality is that its a job, and you are never fully equal with your employer. Having a separate space allows you to develop your own connections in Paris.
- It creates a solid work-life balance. I know of many au pairs who struggle with having to kindly push kids out of their rooms on their days off or struggling to set boundaries.
And the BONUS: Stick up for yourself
This is the most important thing you can do for yourself, and for other au pairs.
Au pairing is an exciting and realistic way for a lot of young people to travel, and it has the potential to be great IF you know your boundaries and how to advocate for yourself. Most of the problems I have run into while au pairing have been easily avoidable by having more direct and frank conversations early on.
It can be a very vulnerable situation, having your housing directly tied to your employment, and is a reason why many au pairs don’t end up speaking up when there are issues. It can be especially vulnerable for au pairs who are not native english speakers or who come from countries with weaker passports. However, if more au pairs stick up for themselves and speak out when there are issues, it will be harder to host families to immediately replace them, ultimately creating a better environment for us to work and thrive.
