educator

school program staff

teaching assistant

tutor

child care center director

Umbrella Family

Working at Umbrella Family and Child Centres has been nothing short of extraordinary. From the supportive management to the nurturing workplace culture, every aspect of this organization exudes warmth, dedication, and a genuine commitment to excellence.

A typical day at Umbrella is marked by a sense of purpose and fulfillment. Our Early Childhood Educators have the privilege of engaging with young minds, fostering their curiosity, and witnessing their growth firsthand. our Leadership team is committed to removing barriers and setting a clear direction for team members at all levels. From leading enriching activities to providing individualized support, every moment is infused with meaning and impact.

What sets Umbrella apart is its unwavering commitment to employee development. The organization invests in its frontline staff and leaders, providing opportunities for continuous learning and growth. From comprehensive training sessions to personalized coaching, Umbrella empowers its team members to reach their full potential. As a result, I have witnessed invaluable skill development and insights that have enhanced the effectiveness of team members at all levels.

One of the most remarkable aspects of working at Umbrella is the culture of collaboration and support. The management team truly listens to employee feedback and takes swift action to address concerns and implement positive changes. Whether it's through open-door policies or regular check-ins, they prioritize the well-being and success of their staff. This level of support fosters a sense of belonging and camaraderie among team members, creating a vibrant and inclusive workplace environment.

Despite the challenges that come with the job, such as balancing the needs of multiple children or navigating complex situations, the supportive atmosphere at Umbrella makes every hurdle feel surmountable. The organization provides ample resources and support systems to help employees navigate the toughest days, ensuring that no one feels overwhelmed or unsupported.

The most enjoyable part of working at Umbrella is undoubtedly the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families. Whether it's witnessing a child achieve a developmental milestone or receiving gratitude from a parent, the impact of our work is tangible and deeply rewarding. Knowing that we are shaping the future generation fills each day with a strong sense of both purpose and joy.

Umbrella Family and Child Centres exemplifies excellence in every aspect of its operations. From its dedicated management team to its supportive workplace culture, the organization sets the standard for early childhood education. I truly hope to see the organization expand outside of its Hamilton borders.

Working at Umbrella is not just a job; it's a calling—an opportunity to inspire, educate, and empower the next generation. I am proud to be a part of such a remarkable organization and look forward to many more years of making a difference in the lives of children and families.

The company fosters a collaborative and inclusive work environment that truly cares about its employees, both professionally and personally.

Supportive Leadership:
From day one, I’ve felt supported by the leadership team. They encourage open communication, value employee input, and take the time to ensure everyone is on the same page. The management team is approachable and always available to provide guidance and feedback, which helps you feel empowered in your role.

Growth Opportunities:
There’s a strong focus on employee development, with plenty of opportunities for growth and advancement. The company actively invests in training and upskilling, offering workshops, mentorship programs, and clear career progression paths. If you’re looking to advance your career, this is the perfect place to be.

Work-Life Balance:
Umbrella Family genuinely understands the importance of work-life balance. . They prioritize mental health and well-being, which is refreshing in today’s fast-paced work environment.

Team Spirit:
One of the best parts of working here is the team. Everyone is driven, passionate, and always willing to lend a hand. There’s a real sense of camaraderie and mutual respect. The collaborative culture here means that no one is left to struggle alone. Whether it’s brainstorming ideas or solving problems, teamwork is at the heart of what we do.

Innovative Projects:
The work itself is engaging and exciting. Umbrella Family is always pushing boundaries, encouraging creative thinking, and implementing cutting-edge strategies. You’ll be part of meaningful projects that not only challenge you but also make a real impact.

Diverse and Inclusive Culture:
The company is committed to fostering diversity and inclusion. They actively promote a culture where everyone’s voice is heard, and differences are celebrated. It’s inspiring to work in a place that values diverse perspectives and creates an environment where everyone feels like they belong.

Final Thoughts:
If you’re looking for a company that values its employees, encourages personal and professional growth, and provides a positive and inclusive workplace culture, Umbrella Family is the perfect place for you. I can’t recommend it enough!

Very negative and toxic work environment. My supervisor was very up and down with staff in terms of being nice and respectful one day and next not even greeting you the next. She had same staff in her office all day . She gossiped lots with staff and talking about everyone to me, who she wanted to fire and who she didn’t like or found “annoying”. When issues were brought forward she never did anything about them. No one worked as a team or was made to feel respected there. I was the program leader but she never communicated effectively or consistently, she seemed all over the place and never knew what was going on. She wasn’t supportive when you had challenging behaviours with children or with staff not doing their job, all the strong educators just got burnt out and left company because nothing ever changes . Project manager who was boss of supervisor was same way and had every excuse for why that site was very chaotic everyday or things you brought up about supervisor was just ignored or turned on you. Union is same way, union rep is more for head office than the workers. They allow staff who have hit children to still work for the company, they just transfer them out. I would not work for this company, they don’t treat their staff fairly and expect way too much from staff . There are a few amazing supervisors so not all sites are horrible to work at but most have same issues . 

Depending on where you start with the company there is a lot of room for advancement. If you start in before and aftercare with a goal of becoming supervisor in 10-15 years, that is definitely achievable.  Company is unionized, get benefits after a certain amount of days worked, most supervisors are great. Upper management is okay. Director is good. Head office admin staff are great. Pay is good but can and should be better, but not the companies fault (government). RRSP matching. Company paid staff and supported them during mandatory closures and gave top-ups if on CERB. If you work well, are open to criticism to be better, friendly, easy going, humorous, and fun then you'll enjoy it. Depending on what site you're at and your work ethic it can be great. If you arent a good educator and don't take well to critiquing from your supervisor, program leader, or co-worker or ask questions to be better, youll hate it. Different trainings provided and company has to provide a certain amount of hours per year to your professional development. Partnerships with ASCY. Split shifts for kinder/school-age aren't great if you have a family at home but usually where you have good kids, good parents, and good coworkers I have found. Choice if you work pa days, March, winter, and summer breaks if at a 10month site. The most important thing I feel to have in this industry and this company, is being open and communicating.

I worked in after care as an early childhood educator. My hours were 2:30pm to 5:45pm Monday to Friday. Great if you're looking for afternoon part time hours. What's nice about this company is they do pay you for programming time (1.5 hours per week) which is unusual. One of the cons is they are not up to date on programming and One of the pros is the ECE pay rate is great. In my opinion, this happens in a lot of companies/organizations which is employee conflicts. Too many opinions, too many employees trying to be a supervisor, and alot of older employees (no ECE background) will not consider or take any advice from younger employees (ECE background) because they're older. That is a shame because a lot of these younger employees can bring a lot to the table. Something that management should look into and come up with solutions to resolve it. We should all put our differences aside and our number one priority should be about the children and families. 

I really enjoyed working with the umbrella family, all the staff were fun and out going during my time with the company. Pay was reasonable with benefits, work hours were suitable for my needs at the time. Working witht the Umbrella Family I was able to communicate efffectively with supervisor as well as staff. While with the umbrella family i found the workload to be good was not too exhausting and the children and staff were great. I found the management was easy to work with being able to communicate effectively, getting a response in a resonable time frame for time off or not being abke to make a shift. 
Being a relief staff I was able to enjoy most of my days with the children and staff I had worked with as everyone seemed to be very helpful and understading if i was new to the school or centre.




Toxic Environment starting at Head office 
Unfortunately, there seems to be a pervasive toxic environment that affects morale. Negative attitudes and poor communication are evident, impacting day-to-day work life.
  
Incompetent Upper  Management.  In my time at Umbrella I've encountered challenges due to managerial shortcomings. This has affected the team's efficiency and overall success.

I've noticed that decision-making appears influenced by popularity rather than merit. This has led to concerns about the overall effectiveness of our Upper  Management  team



I worked with Umbrella for about a year. At the time I had a great supervisor and support from them. I loved working with the children and with my co workers. Into half of the year, supervisors changed. Management became more involved in our center and never left our supervisor/staff alone. Always felt like I was being watched. I was written up for everything I did wrong and was not trusted by my supervisor. My mental health suffered which lead me to bring my resignation in.

All I have to say if you have a good supervisor you may be lucky. Other times not so much. Would not recommend unless you can deal with horrible management. Our union rep even sides with management which is unethical.  

Working with the children are the best part of the job but unfortunately there is always a bunch a paper work that needs to be done on a daily basis which can be very hard at times to spend quality time with the child. 

Forms are consistently being updated which can get extremely annoying and frustrating when you are trying to focus on the program. We shouldn’t have to worry about forms being updated almost every few months. 

The pay needs to be higher period! The educators work hard each and every day to support their families and children in their program. Especially because this job can be so incredibly stressful at times. 

The co-workers tend to stick together and work as teams and everyone seems to really get along with one another!

Long time ago There was a nice staff culture and they're trying to get back to that post-COVID lockdowns. There's opportunities for advancement if you want to be supervisor or program leader but not much else. Full day sites have steady staff that have low turnover. Satellite locations have high turnover. Wish they could do something bout the behavioural children who we can't suspend. It puts staff at harm and children at harm. There's a lot of work to be done with quality of materials needed because lots of stuff is broken and thrown into bins and it feels shabby. Piles of stuff everywhere on counters some rooms.  

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Educator 79 salaries reported	$25.70 per hour
School program staff 48 salaries reported	$27.52 per hour
Teaching assistant 12 salaries reported	$23.10 per hour
Tutor 26 salaries reported	$27.53 per hour
Child care center director 20 salaries reported	$25.31 per hour

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