After you have found your family in Canada and it is a mutual agreement that you will come work for them, take absolutely no action until you receive a contract. Although you may not think you need one, it’s better to not need it and have it than to need it and not have it. A contract is a document ensuring that both parties are treated fairly and that no one is taken advantage of. It is there for worst case scenarios and hopefully it won’t ever come to a point where you have to use it, but if it does, you’ll be glad to have it.
The contract must include your working hours and time off. It must also have a summary of what your expected duties are. The summary doesn’t have to be precise, it can just say “3 hours of housework on week days.” But ensure that there is some sort of description of your duties.
Working hours are usually about 5 hours a day, but double check because this may vary in different places.
This is a simple schedule for an au pair contract during the school term. It briefly explains what is expected of the au pair.
With these guidelines in your contract, you can ensure you won’t be taken advantage of as cheap labour.
The contract must also state your salary and the amount of time you are expected to work there. If there is a breach of the contract, you are allowed to terminate it immediately.
For example, if you were forced to go help clean up at the host parents work place after an office party. But, be sure to put the termination in writing. Have two copies both signed and witnessed by you and one of the host parents and a third party.
Keep that copy with your contract and hang on to it for a while just to be safe. If you or the host family are unhappy with the arrangement, the contract may be terminated with a two-week notice. This means, if you want to quit for any reason, you must give the host family a written letter of resignation, stating your reason for wanting to leave two weeks before you actually quit. The family may also give you a two weeks’ termination letter if they feel that it isn’t working out with you.
Immediate termination of the contract can also happen if both you and the host family decide and agree that it’s not working. If this happens, no notice on either side needs to be given.
