4 years working though major depression as an early years educator on workfare scheme, kids and parents love me, worked though the high of the pandemic because our service looks after at risk children. Worked a lot with children with autism because I have a lot of experience and training in that area and am autistic myself. Had my heart broken when one of my little guys died unexpectedly. Put up with cold, patronising, ableist, checked out coworkers who seem to hate working with children. Endured the performative wokeness of the directors while their photo ops got in the way of me teaching. Even sat though a one hour mindfulness session in place of my lunch.
After all that they finally offered me a position after milking the state for all they could. One with terrible pay and hours. I work for a Charity that bills itself as a feminist organisation with the goal of ending poverty amoung women but doesn't pay its childcare, hospitality or cleaning staff, all majority female roles, a living wage. I'll take it because that's still better then most jobs in childcare in this late capitalist nightmare.
But the thing that really pissed me off was being asked for two letters of recommendation…I've worked for you for four 4 years, you conducted 8 performance reviews, all excellent, you should know what my character's like.
This kind of stuff, that's why you can't even keep people who view this work as a vocation.