In my building our pool was closed a few days because the company couldn't get the proper visas for enough lifeguards.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my neighborhood we have 2 outdoor pools and one indoor. All are guarded by kids that wear shirts and hoodies that mention Ukrainian something. I can't read it fast enough to not seem like a staring weirdo.

Talk to them. I'm very shy, but the lifeguards are all very friendly and talkative. We spend lots of time at the pool every summer and the lifeguards always sit with me and talk to me every day. I usually bring them some food and drinks. Especially on very hot days. They always appreciate it.

My husband speaks a couple of Eastern European languages, and we always chat with the lifeguards at our pool. They are usually pretty nice. I bet i you asked them what their shirt says, they'd happily tell you.

it's a big scam by the pool companies and the HOAs that want cheap labor are fine with it.

they aren't treated great. crammed into tiny dirty apartments with 4-6 in a room. most of them don't care. they party, hook up and get a fun summer.
afterward they travel out west and have more fun. obviously it would be better if these jobs went to locals, but it won't happen under current immigration. they also don't pay some of the taxes, so it's a win win for the employers that keep the $$$ off of them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Again, yet another example of how immigration policy is really only in place to help businesses keep costs down. Whether it's illegal immigration or programs like this.

+ a million. People ask why teenagers aren't lifeguards anymore. I get that its because there aren't enough teenagers available to work in the summer, but I also think their wages haven't changed at all since I was probably a lifeguard, it was very good money when I was a teen, enough to support all the fun things I wanted to do during the year. Now, I bet you could $2000 even if you worked all summer. It's not worth it for teens!

My teen is a lifeguard. They pay minimum wage, and are expected to do a lot more than just sit on the side of the pool--they clean it, obviously, but also have to do some amount of landscaping/mowing.

I know, but what I was a lifeguard we made more than minimum wage ($12 an hour or so in 2000) It was worth it to get certified and stay in shape and all that. You could also make more money by doing lessons and things.

What? You know my kid makes minimum wage? How does that make sense? Where were you making $12/hr 17 years ago?! He stays in shape anyway, he's a mulit-sport athlete including swimming. I've told him NOT to mow lawns--it's a private club, and he's definitely not been hired to do that. It's insane to watch these teens mowing in flipflops. I'm horrifiied that one of them is going to have an accident. So stupid. SMH.

Anonymous wrote:They probably are receiving pauper wages but their parents have money to support their living.

This is an experience for them and the lifeguard work is just something to pass the time during the day. The ones at our pools are clearly all living in close proximity if not in the same house. (btw I think some of the lifegaurd companies help rent a house). All of ours are constantly flirting with each other and I assume there is plenty of partying and hooking up that is going on over the summer.

OP is jealous!

Anonymous wrote:At that age, living in France, I certainly would not have wanted to do this.

me neither

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Again, yet another example of how immigration policy is really only in place to help businesses keep costs down. Whether it's illegal immigration or programs like this.

+ a million. People ask why teenagers aren't lifeguards anymore. I get that its because there aren't enough teenagers available to work in the summer, but I also think their wages haven't changed at all since I was probably a lifeguard, it was very good money when I was a teen, enough to support all the fun things I wanted to do during the year. Now, I bet you could $2000 even if you worked all summer. It's not worth it for teens!

My teen is a lifeguard. They pay minimum wage, and are expected to do a lot more than just sit on the side of the pool--they clean it, obviously, but also have to do some amount of landscaping/mowing.

I know, but what I was a lifeguard we made more than minimum wage ($12 an hour or so in 2000) It was worth it to get certified and stay in shape and all that. You could also make more money by doing lessons and things.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What countries are they mostly from?
Who pays their rent?
There is a apartment complex near my house where the rents start out at $2,000 a month and they are living there.
I know this because I always see them walking to and from the shopping center across the street carrying bags of groceries.
Summer lifeguarding must pay really well.

And you think lifeguards are EACH renting a one-bedroom apartment for $2000? Come on. You can't think of how they might double, triple or likely quadruple up???

So you mean to tell me they split the $2,000 ÷ 15?

That is a lot of people to share 1 single bathroom with.

You obviously haven't seem much of the world outside America.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Again, yet another example of how immigration policy is really only in place to help businesses keep costs down. Whether it's illegal immigration or programs like this.

+ a million. People ask why teenagers aren't lifeguards anymore. I get that its because there aren't enough teenagers available to work in the summer, but I also think their wages haven't changed at all since I was probably a lifeguard, it was very good money when I was a teen, enough to support all the fun things I wanted to do during the year. Now, I bet you could $2000 even if you worked all summer. It's not worth it for teens!

My teen is a lifeguard. They pay minimum wage, and are expected to do a lot more than just sit on the side of the pool--they clean it, obviously, but also have to do some amount of landscaping/mowing.

Anonymous wrote:Again, yet another example of how immigration policy is really only in place to help businesses keep costs down. Whether it's illegal immigration or programs like this.

Many don't go back to their home countries once the summer ends. I loosely know of a few who have been here for years since coming here for this same job. They try to find other companies that will sponsor them through work but if they don't they stay anyway.

They are from mostly Eastern European countries. My husband befriends the guards at our condo pool and they come to dinner at our condo a couple of times each summer. We had dinner with two Croatians last week. Both are 19, studying economics and fairly fluent in English We have stayed in touch at Christmas with most of them and watched them complete education and get jobs

Lovely experience

Anonymous wrote:Again, yet another example of how immigration policy is really only in place to help businesses keep costs down. Whether it's illegal immigration or programs like this.

+ a million. People ask why teenagers aren't lifeguards anymore. I get that its because there aren't enough teenagers available to work in the summer, but I also think their wages haven't changed at all since I was probably a lifeguard, it was very good money when I was a teen, enough to support all the fun things I wanted to do during the year. Now, I bet you could $2000 even if you worked all summer. It's not worth it for teens!

Anonymous wrote:In my neighborhood we have 2 outdoor pools and one indoor. All are guarded by kids that wear shirts and hoodies that mention Ukrainian something. I can't read it fast enough to not seem like a staring weirdo.

Talk to them. I'm very shy, but the lifeguards are all very friendly and talkative. We spend lots of time at the pool every summer and the lifeguards always sit with me and talk to me every day. I usually bring them some food and drinks. Especially on very hot days. They always appreciate it.

In my neighborhood we have 2 outdoor pools and one indoor. All are guarded by kids that wear shirts and hoodies that mention Ukrainian something. I can't read it fast enough to not seem like a staring weirdo.

Anonymous wrote:They are exploited at amusement parks that employ a lot of Europeans too. I remember reading about a lot of bad stuff happening to summer employees at Cedar Point in Ohio.

Also at National Parks, where they are really screwed because they are usually out in the middle of nowhere. And charged ridiculous rates for room and board.

http://www.denverpost.com/2011/06/18/visa-program-encourages-seasonal-hiring-of-foreign-students-while-u-s-youths-go-jobless/