Pros
I had a lot of hope for Swing and somewhat enjoyed it when I started a few years back. The flexibility has been helpful in managing other responsibilities, so I have been there longer than most I meet.
Cons
It is telling that the most enthusiastic and professional subs I meet have been brand new as of late, and I seldom see them again, and schools have asked me to bail out other subs that were frankly just bad. Swing also tells schools on the client site that it offers bonuses to substitutes, but I have otherwise never seen the word. Also, given the competitive model and summer vacation, it is practically impossible to work the required hours to earn benefits, regardless of tenure. I am also finding myself pressed into making excuses for the agency more and more. My impression is that Swing is becoming the "Uber Eats" of education and creates policies that distance corporate from Subs to the extent that I have a hard time doing my best work for the schools and Swing has buffered itself from the consequences of high turnover. When I started, even if the grade or subject changed on arrival, it was acceptable to leave and still get paid, so of course nobody did. Now Swing tells schools that as long as it's at the school, they can have you fill even non-teaching roles, and you get scolded if you have a problem with whatever that happens to be that day.
