Working hours and tasks
What counts as working time, and what counts as family time?
Short answer
Working time is, in principle, the time during which the au pair is required to be present or takes on a specific task for the family. This includes childcare, babysitting — even when the children are already asleep — and agreed light household tasks.
Family time, on the other hand, is the time the au pair spends together with you as a family member, without being responsible for childcare or a task.
Last updated: 13.08.2026
Where is the line?
Not every shared activity in everyday family life automatically has to count as working time. In a host family, there can also be shared family rules.
If, for example, everyone eats dinner together, it can naturally be part of that for everyone to help briefly: one person lays the table, someone prepares the food, and afterwards everyone tidies the kitchen together. Small tasks like these within shared family life can be part of family time.
What matters, though, is that this does not turn into hidden working time. If the au pair, for example, regularly cooks for a longer period, is solely responsible for the children, or takes on other firmly agreed tasks, this time belongs in the work schedule.
The simplest measure is therefore: does the au pair have a specific task, or do they need to be present because you are relying on them? Then it is working time.