AuPair in Italy overworked?
Hi! I am currently an AuPair in Italy and I feel like they are taking advantage of the system. I have years of previous work as a full time nanny in Spain and the US as well as a few experiences as an AuPair. My experiences have always been relatively great and simple. I help with English, accompany the children to school, play with them, do their laundry. However, this experience feels different as I feel like I am working as a full time nanny again, with a lot less pay off. I took this experience because I had went on vacation here previously and wanted to get a feel for what life is really like here as I had some time off before going back to a full-time nanny back home. We agreed on 6 hours a day with Saturday and Sunday off, they have respected the weekends off but not the hours at all. She gives me a 30 minute lunch break which doesn't go towards my hours even though I am to stay home with the kids. Some days I have an hour break but not really because I am expected to clean the kitchen after the kids and I, but also her husband as well as wash the clothes, hang them up, take them off and dry them. She likes it done at this specific time and it's not just the children's laundry but also her and her husband's. So if I'm doing this is it truly a break? I am respectful of their time and their space, I'm always on time, I am clean, and I go above and beyond. I kept a rough estimate of the times I am working and it's always a couple hours over and my time is never respected. I even started putting a timer on my phone to make sure I wasn't crazy but some days I am working 9-10 hours! We had to go visit her family and she was present however I was expected to be available the tire time until like 10 pm... I don't have enough time to do everything she wants with doing the dishwasher, taking the kids to their things, cleaning them up, cleaning up after them, doing everyone's laundry and etc. If I don't finish all this I am also expected to finish it during my free time when she arrives home. Another example, I told her I had plans previously and she shows up late. I hurry up and get ready and then she is sitting on the couch telling me I need to bring in the laundry and fold it and also take the trash out. I ended up missing my train. I know you are thinking what's wrong with me and I know. I come from an abusive household so I am used to being a people pleaser and keeping my mouth closed. I have a lot of anxiety and I really want to say something but how can I say it? I tried to look up an official site for AuPair in Italy and I can't find anything with official guidelines. She also set it up so I don't even get paid fully until the day I leave. HM is always saying I am the best AuPair and she wants me to stay and all this but I feel like it's because I am a giant pushover and I am exhausted. I could write more but I'm exhausted and stressed and needed to vent a little.
Posted Aug 27, 2026, 12:56 PM UTC