Umbrella is a Great Place to Work®!
Umbrella Family and Child Centres of Hamilton has officially been certified as a Great Place to Work® for the second consecutive year!
Umbrella Family and Child Centres of Hamilton is thrilled to announce that we have been certified as a Great Place to Work® for the second consecutive year – a prestigious honour based entirely on the voices of our employees.
As the only licensed, non-profit child care provider to be certified as a Great Place to Work® in Hamilton, Ontario for two consecutive years, Umbrella Family and Child Centres of Hamilton offers high-quality, licensed child care programs across 27 locations throughout the greater Hamilton area. Our full day programs for infants, toddlers and preschoolers and our before and after school programs for JK/SK and school-aged children provide environments where children can engage in play-based learning at their own pace. Based upon Ontario’s pedagogical approaches for the early years, we strive to ensure that each child feels a strong sense of belonging and well-being. Our programs are inclusive, responsive and accessible, and we continuously strive for excellence and innovation in early learning and child care.
About Great Place to Work® Certification
Great Place to Work® is the most definitive “employer-of-choice” recognition that companies aspire to achieve. It is the only recognition based entirely on what employees report about their workplace experience – specifically, how consistently they experience a high-trust workplace. Great Place to Work® Certification is recognized worldwide by employees and employers alike and is the global benchmark for identifying and recognizing outstanding employee experience. Every year, more than 10,000 companies across 60 countries apply to get Great Place to Work® certified.
Great Place to Work® Certification is a highly coveted achievement that requires consistent and intentional dedication to the overall employee experience. By successfully earning this recognition, Umbrella Family stands out as one of the top companies to work for.
At Umbrella, our commitment to children begins with our commitment to the people who care for them. We invest in ongoing professional development, mentoring, and training that equip our educators to provide high-quality, responsive, and inclusive early learning experiences.
This award is a direct reflection of the dedication and passion of our staff and volunteers. They are the heart of our organization, and their efforts ensure that families across Hamilton receive the very best in child care.
As a result of an organization-wide, confidential survey, our team members have told us they feel valued, respected, and supported – and that matters deeply. Because when educators thrive, so do the children in their care. In fact, research continues to show how critical the early years are in a child’s development. That’s why we remain focused on building a workplace culture that inspires our staff to develop, lead, and stay.
This certification is more than a milestone; it’s a reflection of our vision – to provide responsive, accessible and inclusive child care for all. In doing so, our 27 centres providing infant, toddler, preschool and before and after school programs are nurturing environments where both children and educators can flourish. This recognition affirms what we’ve always known: a strong, supported team is the foundation of exceptional child care.
What makes Umbrella a great place to work?
At Umbrella, our commitment to children begins with our commitment to the people who care for them. We invest in ongoing professional development, mentoring, and training that equip our educators to provide high-quality, responsive, and inclusive early learning experiences.
Professional Development and Opportunities to Grow
Umbrella offers many opportunities for our employees to grow in their careers and within the organization. We pay for memberships for all employees to ASCY, a local community partner, which offers unlimited professional development training. Umbrella is a registered sponsor of the Child Development Practitioner Apprentice Program and assists with the cost of the education through our Apprentice Lending Program. In this program, the organization will lend employees the cost of the required courses and make payroll deductions over the course of six months.
Health and Wellness Program
The health and well-being of our employees is a priority at Umbrella. The organization offers a comprehensive Employee Assistance Program for all employees, starting from their first day. The Employee Assistance Program offers support and assistance in the areas of family, health, life, money, and work. Umbrella also has an organization-wide Health and Wellness program that offers themes of physical health and mental wellness each month. In this program, employees receive information regarding the month’s theme and voluntary group activities in their monthly staff meetings.
Priority Child Care
Umbrella employees receive priority for their child/children on the waiting list for child care programs operated by the company.
Benefits and Group RRSP
Umbrella offers full benefits and company matched group RRSP options to all permanent employees after completing their probation. Full time employees have their benefits 100% paid by the company and part-time employees co-pay their premiums. The organization conducts a review of the benefit plan provided to employees, ensuring that the rates and services being provided are meeting the needs of both employees and the organization on a yearly basis.
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
At Umbrella, we take pride in the diverse and rich backgrounds of our employees, families, and the communities we serve. We have developed and implemented policies and procedures that address and reduce systemic racism and anti-bias practices throughout the organization. Diversity is celebrated by acknowledging similarities and differences and providing perspectives that embrace beauty and value all differences. We provide opportunities through materials and experiences for children, and through professional development, for staff to explore diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and practices.
We’re Hiring!
Explore a career in early child education at Umbrella Family and Child Centres of Hamilton.