COVID Layoff in BC Daycare (ECE) — My Family’s Story

Author’s note: This is the chapter before my employer switch. It’s about the weeks I was laid off during COVID, what it did to our income and family rhythm, and what I learned.

COVID Layoff in BC Daycare (ECE) — The Weeks With No Income

When COVID hit, many daycare centres struggled under evolving health orders. I was placed on a temporary layoff for about three to four weeks, during which I had zero income from that position. At that time, BC had suspended in-class K–12 instruction, which cascaded into child care demand and centre operations.

Financially, I researched available support. I learned about the federal Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), which operated in four-week blocks starting in March 2020, intended for workers whose income was interrupted due to COVID.

COVID Layoff in BC Daycare (ECE) — What My Kids Went Through

Social distancing changed everything. My eldest, in kindergarten, shifted to screen-based learning. The home felt simultaneously too full and too quiet. With in-class schooling suspended province-wide, many families were trying to juggle remote learning, child care disruptions, and emotional stress.

Still, there were silver linings: with more time together, my children and I found simple joys — cooking, short walks, play in the living room. Those moments didn’t erase anxiety, but they gave us pause.

COVID Layoff in BC Daycare (ECE) — The Workplace Perspective

Before layoff, my relationship with my original supervisor was already strained. COVID made communication harder. Some child care programs reduced hours or closed temporarily. In BC, under emergency measures, rules for temporary layoffs were extended, and many employers used that to manage uncertainty. BC’s Employment Standards Act defines “temporary layoffs” and sets conditions: layoffs must be agreed upon, and if a layoff exceeds permitted duration, it may be treated as termination. (BC Temporary Layoffs Rules)

I kept careful records — scheduling notices, messages about hours, pay history. That paperwork later became important.

COVID Layoff in BC Daycare (ECE) — How We Managed

Week-by-Week Plan

• 🗓️ Week 1: Tighten budget; pause non-essentials; list bill dates; check benefit eligibility.
• 📚 Week 2: Make micro-schedules for kids: short learning bursts, play, stretch; connection calls for social time.
• 🧾 Week 3: Organize documents: when ROE arrives, all paystubs, messages about reduced hours, notices from employer.
• 🧠 Week 4: Prioritize mental health: daily walks, family reading, “small wins” jar.

COVID Layoff in BC Daycare (ECE) — Lessons Learned

• 🧾 Document everything: offers, ROE, paystubs, notices. Know BC’s temporary layoff rules and timelines. (BC Layoff Extension Announcement)
• 📣 Ask for clarity in writing: hours, pay adjustments, schedule changes — especially in fast-changing times.
• 🌱 Hold family routines: Small rituals and predictability helped stabilize children more than perfect schooling plans.

Inside Link

Switching Employers in BC (ECE) After One Year — My Real Story

📚 Want more hands-on ECE classroom content?

If you’re also interested in deeper ECE practice tips (play-based learning, daily routines, small-group strategies, teacher language, etc.), visit our broader content hub: Cornerstone Nest – ECE Articles.

Thank you for reading.

Sources / References

• Government of BC — Temporary layoffs extension during COVID-19
• Province of BC — Temporary layoffs rules under Employment Standards Act
• Government of Canada (CRA) — CERB program and eligibility
• Government of BC — In-class instruction suspended announcement (March 17, 2020)
• BCCDC — Public health guidance for child care during COVID-19