“I have been working as an ECE for four years now. I have been in the same company for the past four year. There are so many times that I have wanted to leave but been afraid to. It seems to me that even if I move to another ECE job, I’ll still be facing the same bad situation I’m experiencing now.
I can’t blame anyone because I know that everyone here is trying their best to create a good working environment, especially my supervisor, which I really appreciate. But enough is enough.
Despite the four years that I have been working, I still don’t have health benefits and paid vacation. Before Covid I was working 7:30am split shifts, which meant I couldn’t use my 7 sick days easily. Now, because of the pandemic, it feels impossible for me to use my paid sick days.
I feel overwhelmed everyday as all the responsibility is on my shoulders alone. I have an ECA as a partner, our supervisors don’t expect them to have the same responsibilities as me, so I bear that alone. When there are complaints or demands from parents, I’m the only one expected to face them, and that adds more stress to my job.
I don’t want to blame anyone, but this has become my situation for the past four years. The only thing that drives me and that keeps me going are the children that I work with. I love the job but when I am in the program I want to run away.
I want to help and be part of the advocacy for decent work. I want to be part of the voices to advocate that ECE’s should not face unreasonable and unrealistic demands. I want to help by advocating that we are educated professionals and should be treated with respect as other professionals are.”
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ECEs, early years staff and child care providers deserve respect and recognition for their work. This includes the decent work conditions that create opportunities for meaningful pedagogical and caring work. This requires a publicly-funded, universal child care system with decent work at the core.
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