b'WHAT THE AU PAIR RULING MEANS FOR HOUSEHOLD EMPLOYMENTB Y G U Y M A D D A L O N EArecentfederalappealscourtrulingin IntheU.S.,theaupairprogramwasMassachusettshasdisruptedtheaupair officiallyenactedbyCongressin1989asaprogram in the state by ruling that au pairs waytoallowforeignnationalstheshouldbeconsideredhouseholdemployees opportunitytolivewithanAmericanfamilyandgrantedthesamelaborprotections andtakepartintheirhomelife.Today,affordednanniesthroughtheDomestic thereare15sponsororganizationsWorkersBillofRights.Thedecisioncame authorizedbytheU.S.StateDepartmenttoasashocktomanyfamilieswhohaveseen sponsorindividualstoparticipateintheautheirchildcarecostsskyrocketbyasmuch pairprogramandreceiveJ-1visastoworkas150%.Aupairsarenowrequiredtobe inthecountry.Anaupaircantenterthepaidthestatesminimumwagerateof countrywithoutthesupportofoneofthe$12.75/hour as opposed to a weekly stipend sponsoring companies.of$195.75requiredbytheprogram.Therepercussionsofthecourtsrulingarestill Benefits for the au pairbeingfelt,andmanyarewonderinghow Fortheaupair,theygettoexperiencelifethiswillimpactaupairs,familiesinneed in the U.S. while continuing their education.of childcare, and even nannies. TheyoftenbecomelikeanothermemberoftheirhostfamilywhilecaringfortheBackground familyschildrenandsharinginaculturalAnaupairisayoungadult,typically exchange experience.female,whocomestotheU.S.fromaforeigncountrytoprovidechildcarefor Benefits for the host familytheirhostfamily.Theycanworkupto45 Themainbenefitofemployinganaupairhoursaweekbutnomorethan10hoursa for childcare is cost. Even when factoring inday.Aupairslivewiththeirhostfamilyfor thesponsoringagencysfees,roomandayearwiththepossibilityofextending board, and an education stipend, an au pairtheirstayforanother12months.Aupairs cancostmuchlessthanananny.Thatsaresupposedtoonlyperformchildcare because an au pair typically earns less thanduties. thefederalminimumwagerate,whilenannies are required to be paid at least theThe use of au pairs first became popular in federal,state,orlocalminimumwagerate,EuropeafterWorldWarIIastheregion whicheverishighest.Anaupairliveswithshifted away from domestic servants. their host family and may be able to providegreater flexibility in caring for children asNannyMag.com21'