KinderCare Learning Centers Employee Reviews about "long hours"

Pros

Lots of opportunities in management.

Cons

Long hours and feel like you get nothing done.

Pros

Ratio is very important to leadership

Cons

Hours are long and difficult

Pros

Great people. Easy trainings and great opportunities.

Cons

Demanding and can be overwhelming and long hours.

Pros

Get to work with children

Cons

Vey Long hours and tiring.

Pros

They have competitive pay and good benefits.

Cons

They are open long hours and throughout the summer (which saves you from looking for a summer job)

Pros

Usual but not guaranteed hour long lunch breaks on 8 hours days

Cons

I don't even know where to begin.. •we are often encouraged to lie to parents i.e. your child had a great day! When in reality the child spent the day terrorizing other children • often breaking serious rules, I question the legality. I am not teacher certified, yet am almost always left alone with children at the end of the day, and occasionally alone with my class all day. • management is awful. My particular center is terrible, with the director frequently sharing confidential information, such as which parents haven't paid their tuition, what is happening in families personal lives, and what the financial status and deals made with staff parents are • sick children are often allowed to stay in the center, even with a high fever or throwing up, when the official policy is they aren't allowed back until 24 hours have passed with no symptoms •children with highly contagious illnesses such as pink eye and hand foot and mouth are allowed to come in and stay, and parents are never notified when there is a child with an illness in their child's class •employees get in trouble with management if they call out sick, despite the fact that they are only sick because sick children were allowed in the building •when you or your child are sick you aren't allowed to leave. Another employee and her one year old has to stay, even though her son has a high fever, and foot and mouth, and a double ear infection. I once had to come in despite the fact that my eyes weren't working together, causing severe double vision, which I had to have surgery to correct in the past and will probably need again in the future. Another time I came in even though I felt awful. I puked in my classroom, in full view of all my students, co teacher, and several other teachers after only 15 minutes of being there. I continued to throw up during the day in the bathroom, and I know for a fact that my boss heard me. The bathroom shares a very thin wall with the office, and I could hear her in there at least twice. I was not allowed to leave, even though the assistant director could have covered me. •we have had to work 8 hours days with no break several times in the past month • when working a 9-6 shift with a staff meeting that started at 6:15 until 8:30, I was not allowed to leave to get dinner between, since I ended up having to stay with a child until 6:10. they had given me my break at 12:00. I was expected to go 8 hours with no food. We have had 4 people quit in the last month. It is no coincidence.

Pros

It's a joy working with children and creating relationships with families. Making a difference in the life of a child is a great accomplishment.

Cons

Long hours only to get your overtime pay taken away because you're forced to take 2 hour lunch breaks. You don't receive paid time off until you've worked a year. Medical benefits are terrible. There is very little support, no room for growth, and management seems fake! The curriculum isn't age appropriate and the menu's for lunch aren't kid friendly. They talk a good game, but don't back it up.

Pros

Flexibility with schedule (when there's enough staff) Co-workers Laid back dress code Children and parents College reimbursement I learned a lot working here from teachers and parents. I enjoyed all the teachers I had the pleasure to work with and the assistant director is amazing! Although the hours were inconsistent, if you had an appointment or have school, they try to accommodate you. They also offer CDA classes free of charge to you after a year of service and if you keep working for them. The parents were awesome! Very understanding and concerned with the staff, always friendly and enjoyed listening about their child's day. Decent enough pay but I've seen other centers that paid $14+ for lead teachers.

Cons

Long hours Horrible management Corporate switches policies like crazy Have to read district managers mind Lie to potential parents Dirty!!! I've worked at another daycare center (Kiddie Academy) and was horrified to switch to this place...it's filthy! The director prides herself in being 'clean' but if you looked at other centers, you would see that corporate ignores the many times they've complained about how dirty it is and how the cleaning crew are lazy. The director doesn't bother to buy cleaning products either..expects you to be a maid and scrub on your hands and knees. Management seems to be passive-aggressive which I don't understand, even the director has admitted to avoiding parents because of conflicts...what kind of team leader is that?! If you try to stand up for yourself, be ready to be bullied and harassed constantly. Sometimes, we had to twist stories or lie to parents about things that happened to their kids. It's awful! The district manager wants you to read his mind, he's rarely around and expects you to just know how to run the room/apply lessons. All the walls are monotone and boring...no color whatsoever. The food is horrible and garbage; you pay so much for your kids tuition and they feed them processed, bland and flavorless cheap food they get from US FOODS. I can understand why some parents bring in lunch for their children. When I first started, they actually had a chef and the food was decent. Now it tastes like cardboard and bothers the children's digestive systems. The hours are horrible...unless you're a 'pet' you get long hours with long breaks. Even if you ask to switch or reduce your hours they give you a guilt trip or avoid the situation rather than remedying it. There wasn't much turn over but those poor ladies stay for 'loyalty', which Kindercare hasn't really shown back to them. Corporate says we go over hours yet are desperately trying to fill a center to capacity...we can't even get enough teachers! The children are slushed around so the favorite teachers can go home early while there's two year olds, three year olds and above are mixed together. They consistency break DCFS rules and run around like cockroaches when we have visitors so it seems like we're up to par. So, where is the money going Kindercare, hmm? You're just another horrible and devious corporation but you pray on families and children. This place is ATROCIOUS.

Pros

The pros are pay and benefits

Cons

The cons would be long hours and staffing

Pros

nice and friendly people too

Cons

hours are long and grueling