The director of my site is amazing but some management above her are not pleasant-nit pick and rude.Benefits are good but pay sucks.High expectations of staff compared to the pay.Childcare is busy in general but taking care if and educating the children is rewarding and enjoyable.

Was this review helpful?

Unorganized, negative, crazy place to work.

School Age Educator (Former Employee) - Goderich, ON - 10 February 2022

Do not recommend if you’re looking for steady hours or actual good pay, and a happy work environment. Managers and other staff are rude, and do not consider personal health choices. The gym machines are usually broken, and filthy.

Pros

None

Cons

Environment Co-workers Pay Schedule Unorganized

Was this review helpful?

Insights into YMCA of Southwestern Ontario

Based on 8 survey responses

Areas for improvement

Trust in colleagues
Support from manager
General feeling of work happiness

Fun place to work

Child and Youth Staff (Former Employee) - London, ON - 4 February 2022

Working at the YMCA was my most fulfilling job. I enjoyed the work I did, and the managers were very kind. It was definitely fun but I don't think you could get full time work without being a manager.

Was this review helpful?

Good place to work depending on your site director

Registered Early Childhood Educator (Current Employee) - London, ON - 23 January 2022

I started working for the Y as a Supply Educator and then began working full-time as an RECE. I have overall enjoyed my time working for them, but your experience will greatly vary depending on your site director. The sites I worked at initially did not have the worst work environment, but it wasn't the best either. You might encounter sites where many staff members are too competitive and would gossip or cause drama, while in other sites most people are incredibly nice and welcoming.The site I am currently at is awesome, the director is nice and compassionate and everybody works together as if it were a family. I feel welcomed and appreciated.My only issue is that we're very underpaid.

Cons

Low wage Management staff varies and can change at any time

Was this review helpful?

Decent job for students

Educator (Former Employee) - London, ON - 6 November 2021

If you’re a student who’s looking for experience working with children to add to your resume and have awkward school hours this job works for you. I was in the before and after school program. I had classes in the middle of the day and evenings so this kinda worked. You’re just really tired at the end of the day. And if you need time to book off for exams and tests or personal matters management wasn’t the most supportive. Gave you a hard time if youNeeded that time knowing full well you’re a student. You got a free gym membership but between work and school there wasn’t anytime to go. Not a lot of opportunity to move up either. Directors not very supportive. It’s just a job you do to learn how to deal with kids and you move on.

Pros

Free gym membership

Cons

Awkward hours

Was this review helpful?

Rate your recent company

Share your experience to help others

Not recommended

Early Childhood Educator (Former Employee) - Toronto, ON - 26 October 2021

I worked for the Y for 10 years. The first few years weren’t bad, I actually loved the job and the families I worked with. But there were changes in management, managers who couldn’t care less about their employees. In a before and after school position, you would be moved numerous times to fill in for other employees who were off because some supervisors didn’t want to go into program. What values? Some management shows little to no respect to their employees. Making decisions that affect the employee without consulting them. There is so much favourtism it’s not even funny. If your direct supervisor likes you, then no problem but if not, you’re treated like the bottom of the food chain. People say you leave the job because of management. This is the main reason I left my position with the Y. Giving my notice to my supervisor was one of the happiest days of my life. The one thing I did like about my job was the families I met and the friends I made along the way. Other than that, I don’t recommend working for the Y unless you wanted to be undervalued and criticized.

Cons

Unsupportive and disrespectful management, favourtism

Was this review helpful?

What values?

RECE (Current Employee) - London, ON - 21 October 2021

Important to find a good team because they will be be the best part of your experience working for the Y. Front line workers are rarely given positive feedback, respect is minimal and educators m are the first to receive criticism despite not being provided with appropriate resources and lack of a decent pay wage. Management and HR are all friends and put themselves first; they disregard legitimate concerns of their employees. Many of them love to power trip over those “under” them and have witnessed a lot of bullying at the hands of management. Wouldn’t be a bad organization to work for if it was just the people at the centre you dealt with... The “higher-ups” are the ones that run things and mistreat their employees. their “values” are never truly followed by those in management (what respect? No inclusiveness of staff beliefs? Never take responsibility or admit and take responsibility when they are wrong? Etc.) and just makes them look hypocritical because many company rules never apply to them. I would not recommend any one to work at such a negative, disrespectful association and wouldn’t recommend attending as a family or participant either. Look elsewhere; there are friendlier, better paying and more welcoming/inclusive and understanding places to work out their, where you will feel more valued and respected.

Pros

Immediate coworkers, health benefits

Cons

Bullying, disrespect, undervalued, underpaid

Was this review helpful?

Overwhelmingly disorganized

School Aged Childcare Worker (Former Employee) - Windsor, ON - 5 September 2021

I have worked with the YMCA twice in the last decade, and both times it was hectic to say the least. Staff can be decent to work with, however with a seemingly endless issue with short staffing, you can expect to be asked to move between sites on a relatively frequent basis.

Pros

Easy going, Wide range of clients provide good experience

Cons

Disorganized Management, Lack of Staffing

Was this review helpful?

Awful place to work

Registered Early Childhood Educator (Former Employee) - St. Thomas, ON - 3 September 2021

Management is unsupportive, not professional, no respect for confidentiality & does not support mental health. Staff are unwelcoming and competitive.

Pros

Lovely children & families

Cons

Pay, management, work environment

Was this review helpful?

Great staff, great members

Yoga Teacher (Former Employee) - Sarnia, ON - 31 August 2021

I was here for nearly 10 years, yoga Instructor. The facility is spotless. The staff and support are amazing and I developed many good relationships with the members also. Ongoing training and advancement is there if you want it. I was able to get days off when required and have the flexibility of covering for other instructors and they would do the same for me. Highly recommend.

Pros

Pleasant work environment

Was this review helpful?

Jobs at YMCA of Southwestern Ontario

See more jobs

Vice President Health Fitness and Aquatics

London, ON

5 days ago

Vice President Health Fitness and Aquatics -YMCA

London, ON

6 days ago

Camp Counsellor, YMCA Camp Henry

Leamington, ON

30+ days ago

Membership Service Representative

London, ON

6 days ago

School Age Site Supervisors and Educators, 2022 -2023 - Tillsonburg

Tillsonburg, ON

14 days ago

Fun place to work

Dance Instructor (Former Employee) - Windsor, ON - 16 March 2021

The most fun I’ve had at a job. Never really felt like hard work.Definitely recommend to someone who is looking for their first job. The people are the best part.

Pros

Free membership

Cons

Management isn’t very flexible

Was this review helpful?

Very terrible working experience and apparently, racial discrimination happens among colleagues frequently there.

Full-time Registered Early Childhood Educator (Former Employee) - London, ON - 13 December 2020

Horrible memory of YMCA Western Branch and UCC flex. Working experience there seemed like nightmares. Colleagues were not friendly and professional. Sometimes they faked negative feedback about their working partners to their leaders. They didn't know how to help each other to finish work. If they didn't like you, they would try very hard to give you a hard time every day and let you get out of there soon.

Was this review helpful?

Great experience

School age educator (Former Employee) - St. Thomas, ON - 24 September 2020

I certainly gained a lot of experience in a short time.First week gave me a thick Nursery Act rule book, and told me to read it. Every a couple of week there will be a day to commute to London for YMCA Courses, which I enjoy more than the job itself. Gave me a job of assisting Autistic children, even though I had repeatedly expressed that I had no experience at all with Autism, kept telling me that I will do fine, then fired me because of it right before the trial period end.

Pros

Hands on learning and training. Discount on YMCA membership.

Cons

Gave me a job that does not match me, where I have completely no experience at all, I felt like being thrown into lion’s den. Unclear job details during interview, I had no idea what I was walking into, false promise job information.

Was this review helpful?

Positive work environment, collaborative and community oriented

Manager, Aquatics (Current Employee) - London, ON - 21 July 2020

Amazing workplace! Not going to make you a millionaire but is a great place for work life balance, very inclusive, and very rewarding. Great people and lots of opportunity for movement throughout the association!

Was this review helpful?

Engaging and Enjoyable Environment

Camp Counsellor (Current Employee) - Chatham-Kent, ON - 13 June 2020

Overall a very good experience of work. Many new skills were learned and developed while working and continue to develop. The joy of making a child's day better is the best part of the job

Was this review helpful?

Enjoyable Staff and Patrons, Mostly Easygoing

Lifeguard/Instructor, Duty Manager (Former Employee) - Chatham-Kent, ON - 23 April 2020

Overall, the flexibility of the YMCA is their greatest strength, the management is willing to work collaboratively with their staff to ensure quality training and desired shifts.

Was this review helpful?

Good place to work

Staff (Current Employee) - London, ON - 2 March 2020

The pay is horrible but they do have good sick/personal dates. Vacation is typical 2 weeks, 3 weeks at 3 years. People are great. Great place to make friends and feel good about going in to work.

Was this review helpful?

fun work place

Non-RECE Educator in Before & After Care (Former Employee) - Byron, ON - 1 March 2020

The staff and students were great. The hours were flexible. They could of paid for travel from center to center when we were working from 7-9;930-230;3-6 at different centers.

Was this review helpful?

Crazy but substainable

Early Childhood Educator (Former Employee) - Chatham-Kent, ON - 6 October 2019

IN this type of environment you always want to make sure you have work friends, to be able to vent about your day or inconsitensies which happen more than you want them to.

Was this review helpful?

Careful

Daycare Worker (Former Employee) - Sarnia, ON - 5 September 2019

Unfortunately, the management and supervisors are disorganized, irresponsible and at times, distrustful. Managers do not take issues seriously or support front end staff. There is no encouragement or praise or positive room for growth.

Was this review helpful?

Amazing place to go

Site Supervisor/Kinder Educator (Current Employee) - London, ON - 29 August 2019

This is a great place to work! They treat you like family! I love coming to work and seeing all the kids and their wonderful families! The stafe are just amazing

Was this review helpful?