Need Childcare in 2024? Do you want to host an Au Pair in Canada?

/in /by

What You Need to Know to Host an

Au Pair in Canada

Do you want to host an Au Pair in Canada?  We are excited to work with you on this new child care adventure.  The idea of hosting an Au Pair can be both exciting and scary at first.  You will be welcoming an adult into your home to share your space and care for your children.  Will your Au Pair work out?  Will you embrace the cultural exchange?  Most Canadian families love the experience and have multiple Au Pairs over the years… but it is important to get it right and that’s where Canadian Au Pair Solutions can help.

There is still a lot of misinformation out there about Au Pairs in Canada, the Visa program, as well as compensation.  Here are a few things every new host family in Canada should know and consider.

The Working Holiday Visa through International Experience Canada

The ONLY way for someone to Au Pair in Canada is if they have a Work permit (unless they are Canadian of course).  International Experience Canada (IEC) Program offers a Working Holiday Visa which permits an applicant to work and travel in Canada for a period of 12-24 months depending on country of origin.  This is the “Au Pair Visa.” Participating countries in the program (there are roughly 32 this year) include most Western and Northern European nations as well as Costa Rica, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Ireland, Japan, South Korea and a few others. 

For countries not part of the IEC program (Brazil, the USA, and Ecuador for example), it is possible that a “Recognized Organization” can assist with obtaining a Working Holiday permit but it will depend on country of origin (not all nationalities qualify).  A few examples of Recognized Organizations are GO International, and SWAP Working Holidays.

The IEC program application process is the sole responsibility of the Au Pair (there is no requirement for the employer/host family to contribute to the process).  The system requires eligible candidates to submit a profile into a pool.  If the candidate is accepted, candidates receive a Letter of Invitation, allowing them to apply for the Working Holiday permit.  The candidate then submits all required documents to the program and waits for approval.  If approved the candidate will receive a Port of Entry letter which they can show a Canadian Border Services Agent (CBSA) upon their arrival in Canada.  It is up to the CBSA officer to issue the Visa.

Where do I find an Au Pair?

Most families seek and find their Au Pairs through online platforms like Au Pair World or Facebook groups.  These platforms are great ways to connect with potential Au Pairs but it is up to you to interview, conduct reference checks and ensure that the Au Pairs you narrow your search down to are a good fit for your family.  Canadian Au Pair Solutions’ Document Library and Membership Pages can save you time and effort (no more Googling!) by streamlining your questions and giving you valuable information about the process.  While online platforms are great for their searchability and diversity, they are not the most accurate place to find information about how the process works in Canada. Au Pair World is based out of Europe and isn’t always up to date on changes in the Visa program or provincial/ federal labor and tax reporting regulations. None of the online Au Pair matching sites are Canadian and it is up to you to determine the accuracy of what you read on a foreign site. For these reasons, we recommend seeking Canadian advise from Canadian Au Pair Solutions.

What are my responsibilities as a Host Family?

Your Au Pair is entitled to the same labor regulations as any other Canadian citizen.  You must pay your Au Pair at least the equivalent of the provincial minimum hourly wage.  You must remit to Revenue Canada as an employer and you should register with your province’s Worksafe or Workers Compensation body.  These are a snapshot of the “formal” requirements.  A membership with Canadian Au Pair Solutions walks you through all of the required steps (we even show you how to complete a ROE and T4 for your Au Pair).

Other things you should consider are a contract, Au Pair handbook and a solid plan on how you want to interact with your Au Pair.  Au Pairs become a member of the family and are not “hired help.”  Imagine how your household will incorporate your new family member into the routine, special occasions and holidays.  Consider how you will discuss any concerns that may arise.  Are you the type of person who is open and easy to talk to or is it difficult for you to address problems and uncomfortable situations?  This is something you will need to think about. Communication is the most important piece in a successful Au Pair/Host Family relationship.

Being a Good Host Family

/2 Comments/in /by

love my family

What does it take to be a good Host Family?  Is your family missing the mark or have you gone through multiple Au Pairs who weren’t happy?  Assuming you did a great job recruiting and selecting your Au Pair, it may be necessary to reflect inward and analyze your actions and/or inactions to determine if your are responsible for the dysfunction or problems.  It might not be that you chose the “wrong” Au Pair.

The most obvious way to avoid some of the pitfalls that Host Families experience is through honest communication.  The Host Family must be upfront and descriptive with their Au Pair during the selection process in order to avoid “shock and awe” during the first few weeks after the Au Pair’s arrival.  You will need to know a fair amount of background information on your Au Pair in order to be an understanding Host Family.  Remember, you are not only a second family for your Au Pair, but you are also her employer and coach.  Yes, I said “coach.”  For the first month or so, you will be her coach as she is adjusting to a new culture, living arrangement and job.

As the Host Mom or Host Dad, how you treat and manage your Au Pair will have a huge impact on how well the year goes.  Here are some things to consider:

Things we cannot easily change:  Physical Environment

For most Au Pairs, their immediate physical environment is important (i.e. having a nice bedroom, a private bathroom, a tv in their room, WIFI access etc…).  Tell your prospective Au Pairs about the environment you will be providing, take photos or video and send maps.  If you live an hour from downtown, tell them!  If you exaggerate or make things appear rosier than they are, you are setting your Au Pair up for disappointment and this never ends well.  After your Au Pair’s arrival sit down and have a chat about how she feels in her new environment.  Is there anything that makes her feel uncomfortable?  Be sure to listen.  Even if there are things that you cannot change, she will appreciate that you cared enough to ask.  Build a positive relationship with your Au Pair by showing her you care.

Training and Instructions

Did you effectively prepare your Au Pair for the job that lay ahead?  Did you create a Handbook and give your Au Pair a schedule to assist her in the first few weeks? Did you spend time with her modelling the family’s routine?  The path to success involves breaking the job down into smaller parts.  In other words, give her training and instructions.  Don’t assume she will just figure things out.  Build your Au Pair’s confidence by encouraging the perception of her capabilities.

Motivation, Satisfaction and PerformanceGold Retro Cup Trophy

Everyone is motivated by intrinsic or extrinsic factors.  Your Au Pair’s motivation, satisfaction and performance is directly influenced by how you treat and reward her.  Find out what motivates your Au Pair.  Ask her about her past experiences or jobs and get her to tell you about times where she felt unappreciated or undervalued.  This might give you a good idea of the type of worker your Au Pair is and what motivates her.

Motivation through Consequence and Positive Reinforcement

Some Au Pairs are motivated by the feelings of accomplishment and pride in a job well done.  Others are motivated by days off, extra bonuses or gifts of thanks.  We all need to feel valued.  How have you displayed to your Au Pair that you value her?  Is it possible that the way in which you were trying to display or show appreciation was not a way in which you Au Pair felt value?  Remember, you are likely from a completely different generation that your Au Pair and the things that may motivate you are not necessarily the same things that will motivate your Au Pair.  Whereas you may perceive value in the opportunity to make extra money (extra babysitting for example), your Au Pair may believe there is more value in time-off.  Make sure the rewards you offer your Au Pair are ones she values, otherwise the rewards serve no purpose and will not contribute to your Au Pair’s motivation.

Micromanaging and Autonomy

Are you trying to plan every minute of your Au Pair’s day and are you hyper-critical of how she completes a task?  Showing your Au Pair that you trust her and believe she is capable of making good decisions is important.  Remind yourself and your Au Pair that you hired HER over others for good reasons.  If you are the type of person that has a difficult time handing over the reins to someone else, you are going to have to learn to take a step back.  You hired your Au Pair to be with your children and take on small tasks while you are away from the home and therefore you are going to have to relinquish some control.

unfairAll Things Equal

Are you paying your Au Pair equitably and offering her reasonable and agreed upon working conditions/hours?  Au Pairs have a vast network and if you are overworking your Au Pair and not compensating her for hours worked (minimum wage at least) it won’t be long before she begins to compare her situation to that of other Au Pairs.  If your Au Pair perceives her situation to be unfavourable compared to her Au Pair friends then she will feel cheated and her motivation and job satisfaction and performance will bottom out.  It won’t be long before she starts searching for a new family.  Make sure you are following the Labor Standards of your province.  Obviously all Au Pair jobs are not equal, but you will level the playing field if you are at least following the rules.

Supply Feedback

Make sure you are sitting down with your Au Pair and talking about successes and failures.  If your Au Pair is struggling with the morning routine or has reached a roadblock dealing with a child’s difficult behaviour you need to know about it and help her find solutions.  This is where the coaching I mentioned earlier comes into play.  If you help her succeed you will build a stronger relationship with your Au Pair.  She needs to trust that you will be there for her, to teach, coach and mentor.

Canadian Au Pair Solutions

City Au Pair vs Country Au Pair

/0 Comments/in /by

We have had many inquiries over the past few weeks from families living in rural areas of Canada wondering about the Au Pair experience and whether there are Au Pairs who would want to be hosted in non-urban locations.  We thought we would address this and put the “myth” to bed that all Au Pairs would prefer the big cities.

Country girl

There are a variety of Au Pair search sites (Au Pair World for example) on the web and some of them allow the Au Pair to indicate her preference regarding the geographic location she would prefer (big city, small town or country).  This is incredibly helpful for host families as it allows them to whittle down their selections to girls who likely wouldn’t mind living outside the city limits.

Let’s look at Au Pair World… a quick search of all countries eligible for IEC Visas for the period of January 2024 for a minimum of 12 months shows over 600 girls interested in coming to Canada. Another scan of those same girls shows that the majority of them are willing to work in a big city, small town OR in the country.

It is safe to say that regardless of where you live, you need to be very honest in your conversations with prospective Au Pairs what your location has to offer.

Quebec City with Chateau Frontenac and womanIf you are in the city, speak about your transportation, amenities, entertainment etc… Although these are attractive incentives for many girls, some Au Pairs become concerned about the cost of living in the and worry they won’t have enough money to maintain the city lifestyle.  Make sure you have discussions with Au Pairs about the cost of things in your city (night club cover charges, or eating at restaurants etc…)

If you are in the country, mention the types of activities your Au Pair could participate in.  Are there recreational facilities or opportunities to meet new friends where you live?  How far from a major centre are you and would there be opportunities to travel into larger centres?  Would your Au Pair be granted the opportunity to travel on days off and if so by what means?

Based on our conversations with families and Au Pairs, the majority of Au Pairs who have grown up in metropolitan areas are the least likely to enjoy a rural setting.  It is a much safer bet for the host family residing in a rural area to seek an Au Pair who has rural roots.

Canadian Au Pair Solutions

Consistency, Change and Transition of Au Pairs – How Does This Affect Your Family?

/0 Comments/in /by

This topic is a common area of concern that some families have when they are considering an Au Pair. These concerns surround the consistency, change and transition of Au Pairs and how it might affect their family.  Some questions often asked are:

“I want consistency for my kids with their childcare – can I have this with an Au Pair? I’m afraid my kids will be upset when our Au Pair leaves – should I consider a longer-term option? Does changing Au Pairs negatively affect children?”

sad daughter hugging his motherThese are legitimate concerns and ones that I myself had when I was considering an Au Pair as a childcare option. Based on personal experience, here are some things to consider that will address some of these concerns.

First off you need to remember: 6 to 12+ months from the perspective of a child is a long, LONG time! There’s a common misconception that having an Au Pair means there’ll be a revolving door of childcare providers passing through your home. This is simply not the case. Sure, some girls want to Au Pair for a couple of months during the summer (and this may work for your family) but there is certainly no shortage of Au Pairs wanting to find a family to settle down with for several months or more. There are thousands of applicants on sites like Au Pair World – a quick search will reveal that many are looking for more than a short-term family placement.  It only takes a few weeks for an Au Pair to comfortably settle within your family and establish a relationship and routine with you and your children.

Another point to consider: what’s more consistent than having your children based within the comfort of your home? This is a benefit that cannot be overstated!  You dictate your children’s routine, schedules, activities and your Au Pair implements it on a daily basis. There’s no morning rush to get out the door to daycare, there’s the comfortable and secure environment of home and there’s a degree of flexibility in the day and it’s routine.

Are kids affected when Au Pairs leave? Of course they are! Au Pairs become members of the family and when the time comes to leave, there is a period of adjustment for everyone.  Change and it’s effects will obviously depend on the children’s age and their ability to understand what is going on.  That being said, kids are going to mirror how their parents react to the situation. We always make sure to maintain open communication with our children when it comes to an impending Au Pairs departure. There’s never been a question that we would keep in contact with our Au Pairs after they leave and we’ve continued on with these relationships.  It’s a valuable lesson for kids to learn that change is inevitable and can be good in that it brings new experiences and relationships. There are feelings of sadness and loss when an Au Pair leaves – all normal and healthy emotions that we talk about with our children.

Canadian Au Pair Solutions