APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) – Lifeguards, umpires and other parks and recreation employees in Appleton can earn some extra money this summer.
Appleton Parks and Recreation is offering $100 hiring bonuses, $100 retention bonuses, $50 referral bonuses and an extra $1 per hour on weekends and during the months of April, September and October.
“These positions were not being applied for as we have seen in previous seasons, so we were looking to find some incentives,” said Program Supervisor, Krystal Ganz.
The department is still looking for about fifteen more ground laborers, twenty more lifeguards, and about a dozen more slide attendants for pools – and baseball umpires.
“We will look at any applicant that is interested. Some of the positions, like lifeguards or slide attendants are geared towards a younger demographic – but anyone who has interest and is certified in lifeguarding is welcome to apply,” Ganz told WTAQ News. “The grounds laborers, we’re looking towards more graduating high school or college-aged, 18 and older, to apply for those positions…There should be some interest in probably baseball for our umpire positions, but again, if they’re just interested in the sport they can come out and there is on-the-job training.”
The on-the-job training is also available for lifeguards who might not have their certification yet.
“We are offering a lifeguard training class that we’re going to be opening up hopefully next week. That’ll be taking place midway through May. But the YMCA and other organizations offer them as well,” Ganz said.
To receive the hiring bonus, employees must work through July 31. To receive the retention bonus, employees must work through the end of the job season depending on position.
To learn more about open positions and apply, visit www.appletonparkandrec.org/about-us/employment.
Appleton isn’t the only city to increase incentives for summer parks employees amid a labor shortage. Bay Beach Amusement Park in Green Bay is also offering extra cash this year.
Park leaders across Northeast Wisconsin are hoping to avoid a repeat of 2021, when lifeguard shortages prevented some pools from opening for their full scheduled hours or at all.
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