Phoenix Parks and Recreation is offering $3,000 in incentive pay for lifeguards

The American Lifeguard Association commends the City of Phoenix for offering their lifeguards a $3,000 incentive this summer. Could this summer’s lifeguard shortage be resolved if more employers offered such incentives?

City of Phoenix Offers $3,000 Incentive to 2023 Certified Aquatics Staff

The Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department is offering $3,000 in incentive pay for certified lifeguards. The City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department needs to hire pool managers, assistant managers and hundreds of lifeguards ahead of the 2023 pool season to safely open as many of the city’s 29 public pools as possible.

Eligible certified managers, assistant managers and lifeguards will receive $500 on the first paycheck, and the remaining $2,500 as a one-time payment at the end of the 2023 pool season.

To receive the pay, a person must become certified as a lifeguard, work the entire summer through Labor Day weekend and finish in good standing. Also, for the first time, the department is offering a new ‘Shallow Water Lifeguard’ position. Shallow-water lifeguards will guard four feet of water and under.

“For the second season in a row, the City of Phoenix is making a direct investment into the safety of our residents, especially when it comes to children and water safety,” said Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego. “Not only do lifeguards watch over our residents while swimming, but they also provide affordable swim lessons throughout the summer.”

“To ensure we deliver the best service to our residents, Phoenix we must continue to raise wages and benefits for our essential employees,” said District 5 Councilwoman and Community & Cultural Investment Subcommittee Chair Betty Guardado. “Our committee will continue to support the important efforts by our Parks and Recreation Department to address the shortages in our lifeguard and pool staffing levels.”

The $3,000 incentive pay reimburses individuals for the cost and time spent obtaining the lifeguard certification.

Read full news story: https://www.phoenix.gov/newsroom/parks-and-recreation/2588

Start your First Time Lifeguard training or renew your Lifeguarding for two more years today

The American Lifeguard Association® is pleased to announce that we have secured a national grant to lower our training fees. These funds will be made available until they are exhausted. To obtain further information on our programs and to register we ask that you go to www.americanlifeguard.com.

Massachusetts Lifeguard Iain Brown, PhD Hogan Torah Sonja Rae Jenine "Jeni" Baines Amy Sea Hana Lang Patrick Metzger