Austin is on pace to hire a sufficient number of lifeguards to open all of its pools and splash pads this upcoming summer – aided by the city’s minimum wage increase to $20 an hour and dedicated outreach from its Aquatic Division.
The Parks and Recreation Board was provided with an update on the hiring efforts during a Feb. 27 staff briefing on the aquatics program.
“This year, thanks to advocacy and your support included, we have new pay rates that are competitive in the Austin market,” said Lucas Massie, assistant director of the Parks and Recreation Department. “So we are excited and anticipate we are able to open all the pools this year.”
The department requires more than 800 lifeguards to staff its 45 aquatics facilities each season. Around 200 stay on the payroll year-round, meaning the department must hire about 600 new lifeguards ahead of each summer. The city has struggled in recent years with recruitment, which in turn has led to a decrease in the city’s ability to provide services such as swim classes.
Massie said the best hiring results come after a pay increase. It’s a trend that appears to be holding, according to the early numbers.
“I will mention that we are on a better pace than in years past, including in 2019, when we ended up with 850 lifeguards,” Massie said.
The city has made other changes aimed at increasing recruitment and retention of lifeguards. In the past, applicants were required to pay for training before receiving a job offer. The city eliminated that fee and instituted a $400 training completion stipend for those who work a certain amount of hours during the season.
Aquatics is also working with Human Resources to iron out administrative wrinkles in the city’s lifeguard application process. The changes will include better and more consistent communication throughout the chain of command.
“We have had some conversations with individuals who have been a little bit frustrated through the application process,” Massie said. “So we’re working on those items.”
The parks department is currently working on an outreach campaign focusing on high schools, colleges and hiring fairs.
To improve retention, the city also is working on measures to increase the number of lifeguard staff employed throughout the year by identifying maintenance and other work in the winter months. In addition, the aquatics team is working with a uniform task force for recommendations on practical use and cultural sensitivity. The division is considering potential security improvements to aquatics facilities and procedures as well, with the aim of making staff feel safer.
Photo by Larry D. Moore, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department: The city department responsible for the city's park system, rec centers, and associated infrastructure.
Parks and Recreation Board: The city’s Parks and Recreation Board members deal with the acquisition, development, improvement, and maintenance of Austin’s parks and playgrounds.
