Complaint Review: LifeLine Aquatics

Mrs. Evans, 

I love how you embody the company you and I both work for. 

For example, you say because he/she doesnt state their name, its immediately their fault they arent getting paid. 

I worked the vista oaks area all summer and I know most of the people who came on a regular basis. Since Im no longer under the threat of retalliation, (it will happen with this company) I can say this, I was loved by the regulars because of the connections I made with their children and I would actually care enough to talk to them. Often times, there would only be one family in the pool and I would get off stand and waterguard near them. I would talk with the parents and be able to watch the children easier while also being able to stay cool. Yet when my manager David came in he chewed me out because of the waterguarding. I was pissed until I realized I didnt give a flying f**k. In my opinion, I was in the right, (by the way, Id been recognized for excellence for doing the exact same thing), But the reason I didnt care was because if something were to happen, I would be right there to assist, and I was doing the smart thing with my training. In my opinion, I was a great guard. I loved my job, Loved the people, loved everything except the end of season screw you paycheck. 

And with that, f**k this place, Stay as far away from this job as possible.

Matthew Pierce 
Lifeline Aquatics

Lifeguard 

Its amazing how much money you guys are throwing into the russians ring. Its amazing how you say youre struggling to survive in this economy. Yet you can throw 10,000 DOLLARS to a few russian immigrants.  I have worked for Lifeline Aquatics for two seasons now and uh let me just say, I regret every d**n minute of it. I worked 10-11 hours a day with no lunch. Yes I may have breaks but for a lunch break I do not. When I was hired I was told we will take 30 min out of your pay so theres a lunch break and that I have to clock out and clock back in after 30 min. I said well fine thats okay but can I leave to go get food? NO! you may not, as we have to have two guards at all times. So I say well Im not clocking out. Thats not a lunch break its a few minutes to get out of 103 degree temperature. but thats one rant. You constantly try to take money out of my paycheck and its 9/18 and I still have not gotten my second to last paycheck. ( I quit 8/16) I came to work early I did my job and did it well. I had great reviews from patrons at pools YET I was put on suspension due to the fact that one day I get complained about and instead of saying we'll review it and handle the situation, Lifeline justs suspends me. Did not ask for my side of the story or check the cameras but just suspend. 2nd rant. 3rd Rant. Overtime pay. I worked a hundred hours a week my last few weeks and several times over the season, yet no overtime pay. One more rant and Ill be done. The d**n people in the office. Ive called Reid multiple times over wheres my pay? no answer. I call the office and they say call Reid. Thats the problem. I call it the Screw You Cycle. When I do finally hear from Reid, I get the same screw you answer, "I dont know about your money, call the office".  I call the office one last time and I finally get somewhere. I am told that its the banks fault for screwing up the payroll and it will be coming out soon. Its been somewhere to close to a week, and I still havent seen my money. I am a student at SHSU and I need the money for textbooks. Yet I'm FIGHTING TO GET PAID. 

Whoever runs this company or owns it or whatever. Be prepared. If my money isnt given somewhat soon as in a week, I will file a complaint with the Texas Workforce Commission. You will be sued for my money. I tried to be the nice guy, I tried to work with you BUT you refused. 

Your Pissed off EMPLOYEE,

Matthew Pierce

Lifeguard, Lifeline Aquatics LLA

Not for long there are to many legit complaints and as I said your company will be shut down or have several fines not sure who runs this company but your in a lot of trouble at this point and all this will be reported to BBB let's see how you squirm your way out of this one '

The BBB only accepts consumer complaints about services rendered. The BBB does not deal with employee complaints. If they did I am certain you would no longer be eligible for your "A+" - your arguement there in response to an employee complaint is completely invalid and uneducated. 

I see it is now my duty to inform the public of Austin and its surrounding areas as well as the companies you have had contracts with about your mistreatment of emlpoyees. Long hours, not enough breaks in the heat, bounced paychecks, taken away overtime pay, hours worked but not paid, the list goes on and on. You abuse your staff because a large percetange of your staff is under the age of 18 (lifeguards) and do not know how to respond to your misconduct as an employer. You seem to forget about the smaller, older percent of employees who have had jobs before and know when they are being screwed over.  

I will be making a "splash" if you will. Be on the look out Lifeline Aquatics, Inc. 

Mrs. Kerry Evans' Vice President of Lifeline Aquatics always resorts to waving the flag about what a great job her employes do for her paying customers. However she refuses to clearly address the complaint at hand. That is her and her small office staff cheating and lying to those committed employes and the public about ongoing scandalis payday practices.

Late Pay and being shorted for hours is business as normal for employes of Lifeline Aquatics. On 7/1/13 I was in front of their Georgetown office from 4pm - 8:30pm with 8 other employes who where begging for their pay checks. We were told to be there after 4pm but before 5pm to pick up our checks for a pay period that ended on 6/15/13. That means they have over 2 weeks to prepare for payday. One girl was crying saying" I don't need this problem I'm leaving for the Marines next month. Iv'e worked 120 hrs in 2 weeks, and their only going to pay me for 87 hrs. Another female employe went in to confront Miss Evans for the group about 7pm and was told to leave the property. The Georgetown Police was called and a 'No Trespassing' order was issued for that female. They did not issue any pay checks before 7:30pm. Everyone who was handed a check claimed they had not been paid for all the hrs worked and submitted by their imediate Supervisors signature on weekly reports. One of those supervisors called the Co. President David Grubbs and gave a 2 week notice of resignation. We are told when hired that payday is 1st and 15th of each month. It takes a month to get your first pay. Also everyone is told we must provide bank account info for direct deposit pay when hired. Even after 6-8 weeks they have not direct deposited our wages. Some have even reported that they were issued pay checks that bounced and caused them banking fees. I pray for the many young people who have been victimized by the corrupt operations of Lifeline Aquatics

Lifeline Aquatics is a reputable firm with an A+ rating at the BBB.  We have been in business for many years as a seasonal employer.  We hire over 250 people during the seasonal business over the last 3 years and work very hard to accommodate young teens (17 or older) as well as all their parent.  Obviously this person does not list their name.  There is a possibility this employee was are discharged for poor work ethics and inability to time manage their time.  But this is part of the seasonal business as many small businesses are aware.  With today's economy and how the government agencies play into "some" of our youths, "I work when I want to" systems it is hard to keep everyone satisfied. 

Our customers are well taken care of and the staffing that are kept are well trained.  We spent 6 weeks as well as hire additional trainers/interpreters for the Russian students as they had told us they were able to read and write English but once arriving could not do either. The other issue they put a link to does not tell everyone the fact that these Russians students played the company to the hilt.  They were Psych and business majors with a knowledge of how the American system works.  We were out over $30,000 supplying them with food, housing, clothing, training and transportation as well as increased pay.  We finally cried "enough" when they kept quitting work and boycotting our site. 3 times they boycotted our job demanding more pay (we were paying them as much as $10 per hour at the time due to the boycotts).  They did not mention the fact they had signed a contractual obligation with the company they never upheld yet we were obligated to continue to pay their housing and expenses until they "decided" to return home for school.  The media refused to print the side of the company because we did not want to be displayed on television.  They took our side of the story but did not display any of our information. 

We are a small business that is hurting due to the economy yet we continue to try to keep our doors open and hire as many as 250 employees every summer to help with the persons that want to work, yet we have standards that must be met.  If they do not meet these standards or follow policy they are held accountable just like any other company would do.  I hope if you read this you will have a better understanding of the type of person that would want to write this and the hard place we are put in with these type of employees.  We have many great employees also that have been with us for many years and we want them to remain with us through these hard times.