Pros
Relatively quick hiring process (4 weeks between interview and orientation), Easy to pick up extra shifts, employee handbook policies support LGBTQ+ individuals, easy to go from minimum wage (pre-lifegaurd certification) to $18 per hour (post-lifeguard certification), good for high school students.
Cons
Physically demanding, 5 hour shifts with no break in the water has caused me and my former coworkers to develop long-term health issues. My location in Lakeridge, VA over hired and I, among the other recent hires, had no consistent schedule and weren't assigned our own lessons. The only way we could work is if someone needed covering or to do cleaning shifts. Management and Deck Supervisors were inconsistent in their discipline, and held strong favoritism towards their employees. I tend to have a resting neutral face, and was encouraged by management several times that if I wasn't happy, I could quit, despite enjoying the job, smiling when on the clock, and satisfactory performance reviews. As a LGBTQ+ individual, I faced no problems with working with my fellow employees, or the students and families in the area. However, management were awkward around me in particular, consistently misgendered me in front of my coworkers and insisted that women's lifeguard uniforms were gender neutral. Lifeguard training offered at this location was cut short, and the overall compliance to safety standards were extremely questionable, including ensuring employees had first aid and CPR certifications. Everything had to go through one manager, which made them overworked and made response times long.
