Comments on: Sample Handbook from a Reader http://AuPairMom.com/sample-handbook-from-a-reader/2009/03/03/celiaharquail/ Helping Host Parents and Au Pairs build great relationships. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:48:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: d http://AuPairMom.com/sample-handbook-from-a-reader/2009/03/03/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-997 d Tue, 10 Mar 2009 01:55:56 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/sample-handbook-from-a-reader/2009/03/03/celiaharquail/#comment-997 I bet the 11 day count is because the department of state already requires 1 1/2 days off a week anyway always. So if your au pair does in fact work 5 1/2 days a week normally. Then 11 days would be 10 business days in combination of the two 1/2 days that fell on the weekend timeframe added up. Thus equalling 11. (can you tell I'm really pondering this. LOLOLOL) I bet the 11 day count is because the department of state already requires 1 1/2 days off a week anyway always. So if your au pair does in fact work 5 1/2 days a week normally. Then 11 days would be 10 business days in combination of the two 1/2 days that fell on the weekend timeframe added up. Thus equalling 11.

(can you tell I’m really pondering this. LOLOLOL)

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]]> By: cvh http://AuPairMom.com/sample-handbook-from-a-reader/2009/03/03/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-967 cvh Sat, 07 Mar 2009 21:47:45 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/sample-handbook-from-a-reader/2009/03/03/celiaharquail/#comment-967 Hi Dawn, Thanks for the nudging. ... I've queued up a few posts for next week, and I put up a somewhat provocative one today... I feel the same way when I look at the blog and see new comments (hooray!) or no comments ( boo hoo).... but a lot of times I forget that the most comments happen if/when I actually write a post! So, off to write about something naughty. Hi Dawn,
Thanks for the nudging. … I’ve queued up a few posts for next week, and I put up a somewhat provocative one today… I feel the same way when I look at the blog and see new comments (hooray!) or no comments ( boo hoo)…. but a lot of times I forget that the most comments happen if/when I actually write a post! So, off to write about something naughty.

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]]> By: cvh http://AuPairMom.com/sample-handbook-from-a-reader/2009/03/03/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-966 cvh Sat, 07 Mar 2009 21:45:00 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/sample-handbook-from-a-reader/2009/03/03/celiaharquail/#comment-966 d, we do it the same way that you do. But, to figure out what's most common, I've queued up a post about vacation day counting, for next week!! d, we do it the same way that you do. But, to figure out what’s most common, I’ve queued up a post about vacation day counting, for next week!!

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]]> By: cvh http://AuPairMom.com/sample-handbook-from-a-reader/2009/03/03/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-964 cvh Sat, 07 Mar 2009 21:39:28 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/sample-handbook-from-a-reader/2009/03/03/celiaharquail/#comment-964 Hi Maya-- I've scheduled a post on vacation day counting, for next week. It has some polls so we can see what the common practices are! Hi Maya– I’ve scheduled a post on vacation day counting, for next week. It has some polls so we can see what the common practices are!

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]]> By: Maya http://AuPairMom.com/sample-handbook-from-a-reader/2009/03/03/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-958 Maya Sat, 07 Mar 2009 13:38:42 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/sample-handbook-from-a-reader/2009/03/03/celiaharquail/#comment-958 My agency specifies 2 weeks of vacation as 11 days. I assume they mean M-F and do not count Sat and Sun into that. Or Sat and Sun may just be assumed. It is not a issue for us as my current AP will be getting well over 3 full weeks of vacation due to our own schedule and plans. My agency specifies 2 weeks of vacation as 11 days. I assume they mean M-F and do not count Sat and Sun into that. Or Sat and Sun may just be assumed.

It is not a issue for us as my current AP will be getting well over 3 full weeks of vacation due to our own schedule and plans.

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]]> By: d http://AuPairMom.com/sample-handbook-from-a-reader/2009/03/03/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-956 d Sat, 07 Mar 2009 01:27:28 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/sample-handbook-from-a-reader/2009/03/03/celiaharquail/#comment-956 I'm no expert!!! But, the vacation requirement I have interpreted as weekly timeframes of Mon - Sun timeframes (as everyone's daily schedule is so different) Therefore, daily vacations at our home (since weekends are off anyway) means 10 business days M-F in combination with any 2 full weekends during the year they choose. Subsquently, Adding up to 14 days. :) Thats how we do it. Certainly let me know if we are wrong. I’m no expert!!! But, the vacation requirement I have interpreted as weekly timeframes of Mon – Sun timeframes (as everyone’s daily schedule is so different)

Therefore, daily vacations at our home (since weekends are off anyway) means 10 business days M-F in combination with any 2 full weekends during the year they choose. Subsquently, Adding up to 14 days. :)

Thats how we do it. Certainly let me know if we are wrong.

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]]> By: Dawn http://AuPairMom.com/sample-handbook-from-a-reader/2009/03/03/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-954 Dawn Fri, 06 Mar 2009 19:28:38 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/sample-handbook-from-a-reader/2009/03/03/celiaharquail/#comment-954 Where did everybody go? LOL! Cvh, maybe you need to post a more provocative or controversial topic to get people talking again! Hmm... What are people's policies on alcohol consumption by their au pairs (and their friends)? How do you interpret the requirement of "two weeks" vacation? Is it 10 work days (plus weekends), or is it 14 work days (which is almost 3 weeks if your AP typically only works during the week)? Do you prefer an older (relatively speaking) or younger au pair, and why? (Just throwing out ideas here. This is one of the blogs I read daily, and I get so disappointed when I come here and there's nothing new as either a main post or comments! LOL!) Where did everybody go? LOL! Cvh, maybe you need to post a more provocative or controversial topic to get people talking again! Hmm…

What are people’s policies on alcohol consumption by their au pairs (and their friends)?

How do you interpret the requirement of “two weeks” vacation? Is it 10 work days (plus weekends), or is it 14 work days (which is almost 3 weeks if your AP typically only works during the week)?

Do you prefer an older (relatively speaking) or younger au pair, and why?

(Just throwing out ideas here. This is one of the blogs I read daily, and I get so disappointed when I come here and there’s nothing new as either a main post or comments! LOL!)

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]]> By: Dawn http://AuPairMom.com/sample-handbook-from-a-reader/2009/03/03/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-951 Dawn Thu, 05 Mar 2009 19:00:14 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/sample-handbook-from-a-reader/2009/03/03/celiaharquail/#comment-951 I agree, sgreen that it's important to lay down some rules and expectations at the beginning. A corollary to that is that (IMO) it is much easier to relax rules later than it is to impose new, stricter rules "midstream." So if I am "on the fence" about how restrictive a particular rule should be, I tend to err on the side of being more restrictive, knowing that I can relax it later if the circumstances warrant -- and I'll even get to look magnanimous for doing so! For example, we always set both a worknight and weekend curfew in our handbook, but with our previous au pairs, we've usually ended up ditching the weekend curfew after a few months, once the au pair has proven herself to be a trustworthy and mature adult. (We still ask for the courtesy of letting us know if she'll be out all night, and we have a curfew for our CAR to be home, but we don't specify a time that she has to come home if she's out with friends and someone else is driving.) I agree, sgreen that it’s important to lay down some rules and expectations at the beginning. A corollary to that is that (IMO) it is much easier to relax rules later than it is to impose new, stricter rules “midstream.” So if I am “on the fence” about how restrictive a particular rule should be, I tend to err on the side of being more restrictive, knowing that I can relax it later if the circumstances warrant — and I’ll even get to look magnanimous for doing so! For example, we always set both a worknight and weekend curfew in our handbook, but with our previous au pairs, we’ve usually ended up ditching the weekend curfew after a few months, once the au pair has proven herself to be a trustworthy and mature adult. (We still ask for the courtesy of letting us know if she’ll be out all night, and we have a curfew for our CAR to be home, but we don’t specify a time that she has to come home if she’s out with friends and someone else is driving.)

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]]> By: sgreen http://AuPairMom.com/sample-handbook-from-a-reader/2009/03/03/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-944 sgreen Tue, 03 Mar 2009 00:57:51 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/sample-handbook-from-a-reader/2009/03/03/celiaharquail/#comment-944 I am a cc au pair mom too and have found their household handbook format very helpful. For all those ap moms that are with cc, you can find lots more examples of completed household handbooks like this one on the Infosource site for host families. they have gathered examples from all kinds of families - with infants, older kids, special needs etc. I think it is super important to lay down some rules at the outset of the program to ensure success. Thanks for posting I am a cc au pair mom too and have found their household handbook format very helpful. For all those ap moms that are with cc, you can find lots more examples of completed household handbooks like this one on the Infosource site for host families. they have gathered examples from all kinds of families – with infants, older kids, special needs etc.

I think it is super important to lay down some rules at the outset of the program to ensure success. Thanks for posting

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