u/Doggiolover

I want to share my experience from a recent childcare position I held during my probation period.

Early in the role, I was assigned a group of children that included three highly behavioural children with significant safety and elopement concerns, in a group of about eight children. As a new educator, this felt very overwhelming. The director later acknowledged that the group was not intended to be structured that way and was supposed to be more evenly distributed. The group assignments were later adjusted.

I also experienced workplace and living dynamics that made the environment feel isolating. My roommates, who were connected to the same workplace setting, frequently spoke in a language I did not understand in shared spaces, which contributed to me feeling excluded and unable to fully engage in conversations happening around me.

During and after my time there, I was made aware through conversations with others that there may have been negative discussions occurring about me outside of direct communication. This contributed to confusion and uncertainty about my standing in the workplace. For instance, I had multiple people tell me that they overheard my room partners state that they want their friend back in the room who was returning after a few months away. Please note this is all alleged information that I was messaged by my coworkers in other rooms who made me feel welcome.

A week before the end of my probation, I was told I was performing well in my role. However, I was terminated a day before my probation period ended.

While this was a very difficult experience, it has reinforced for me the importance of clear communication, supportive onboarding, and inclusive workplace culture in early childhood education settings. I am moving forward with those lessons.

I was told I “was not a good fit, we don’t have to give a reason.”

I will miss the children immensely and am grateful to have known them all. I love children and this will not deter me from continuing to work with them as I have done successfully for over a decade. I am in contact with many families I have provided care for over the years and their children still talk about me.

I just wanted to make this post as closure and also for anyone else who experienced anything that they ever felt was bullying. I thought bullying ended in grade school.

I want to share my experience from a recent childcare position I held during my probation period.

Early in the role, I was assigned a group of children that included three highly behavioural children with significant safety and elopement concerns, in a group of about eight children. As a new educator, this felt very overwhelming. The director later acknowledged that the group was not intended to be structured that way and was supposed to be more evenly distributed. The group assignments were later adjusted.

I also experienced workplace and living dynamics that made the environment feel isolating. My roommates, who were connected to the same workplace setting, frequently spoke in a language I did not understand in shared spaces, which contributed to me feeling excluded and unable to fully engage in conversations happening around me.

During and after my time there, I was made aware through conversations with others that there may have been negative discussions occurring about me outside of direct communication. This contributed to confusion and uncertainty about my standing in the workplace. For instance, I had multiple people tell me that they overheard my room partners state that they want their friend back in the room who was returning her a few months off. Please note this is all alleged information that I was messaged by my coworkers in other rooms who made me feel welcome.

A week before the end of my probation, I was told I was performing well in my role. However, I was terminated a day before my probation period ended.

While this was a very difficult experience, it has reinforced for me the importance of clear communication, supportive onboarding, and inclusive workplace culture in early childhood education settings. I am moving forward with those lessons.

I was told I “was not a good fit, we don’t have to give a reason.”

I will miss the children immensely and am grateful to have known them all. I love children and this will not deter me from continuing to work with them as I have done successfully for over a decade. I am in contact with many families I have provided care for over the years and their children still talk about me.

I just wanted to make this post as closure and also for anyone else who experienced anything that they ever felt was bullying.