COVID-19s Effect on Employment | AUSTSWIM

Victorian Swim Centre's closed for a large portion of the year and restrictions across the country have had a widespread impact on all services, classes, and courses on offer. Since March 2020, organisations across the industry have had to rationalise their operations, revise their business plans and forecasts and in many cases, reduce their staffing levels (often dramatically).

 

We sincerely hope we are through this unprecedented period, however as we have seen across SA, NSW, VIC and most recently QLD, we may have some time to go before a consistent level of "normal" is achieved. As we reflect on the events of 2020, we hope that everyone learnt some key lessons that could help ease the pain of future disruption.

While organisations and businesses have been hit hard during COVID-19, there has been an even greater, more significant impact on our people. From physical and mental health implications to the social and economic impacts, the way that we have gone about our daily lives has changed, maybe forever. Central to and cutting across these impacts is the topic of employment. At a time like no other, COVID-19 has highlighted that people matter! From a business perspective people matter and employee engagement matters especially when times are tough.

 

You only have to do a quick Google search to find hundreds of articles about the benefits of employee engagement. Increased profitability, improved staff retention, a boost in workplace happiness, higher levels of productivity, more innovation, connected employees, better communication, more collaboration, commitment to the organisation, improved staff recruitment rates, and the list goes on…

 

So why does employee engagement matter during challenging times like those we have seen during COVID-19? After all, many businesses were closed! While keeping employees engaged during COVID-19 might appear to be a luxury, there are significant benefits to reap into the future. Of course, it wasn't a luxury that everyone could afford, and many businesses may not have survived otherwise.

Here are three reasons why recognising and rewarding your employees is critical during challenging times:

• You are asking more of your employees
• You will need employees as new opportunities emerge and the industry reopens and rebuilds
• Your reputation will precede you – you can become an employer of choice, attracting high quality staff

AUSTSWIM recently conducted a post COVID-19 survey. The survey was designed to explore the employment experiences of AUSTSWIM Teachers throughout 2020, gain an insight into their current employment status and see if there were lessons to be learnt.

AUSTSWIM Teachers are the life blood of swimming and water safety programs. Their employment and engagement are critical to the success of the industry. Yet like many Australians, 51% of AUSTSWIM Teachers found themselves without employment, as a swimming and water safety teacher, once COVID-19 hit. This had some clear flow on effects:

• 33% of AUSTSWIM Teachers sought alternate/ additional employment during the COVID period when pools were shut. Of these AUSTSWIM Teachers:
• 80% found alternate or additional employment outside their role as a Teacher of Swimming and Water Safety

• 77% have maintained that employment since returning to their role as a Teacher of Swimming and Water Safety.

• 20% of Teachers of Swimming and Water Safety are currently not working- the reasons include not being offered the hours by their Swim Centre or receiving Jobkeeper as their current source of preferred income.
• 6% of this number say they may not return to their role in the next 12 months.

The future is positive as we rebuild swimming and water safety programs and industry.

• 55% of Teachers of Swimming and Water Safety want more hours than they are currently being offered by their employer.
• 15 hours is the average amount of work a Teacher of Swimming and Water Safety is working per week
• 8 hours is the average amount of additional hours a Teacher of Swimming and Water Safety would like to work each week

Like all of industry, AUSTSWIM was significantly impacted by COVID-19 and while AUSTSWIM courses were not able to be held while restrictions were in place, the good news is that AUSTSWIM courses are now being run right across the country, new courses are being added every day and a record number of candidates are commencing their training.

 

Did you know that we can also run a course at your centre for your staff? Not only is it an amazing team building exercise, but it is a great way to build your teams skills and grow your programs. Plus, it helps your staff to expand their skills, update their AUSTSWIM Teacher Licence and even save a little (discounts may be available).

 

To find out more information and register your interest in team training click here

The future is bright! With record courses and candidates, and the continuation of AUSTSWIMs national Back in the Swim campaign, we are excited to see the happy, smiling faces of AUSTSWIM Teachers and their students back in the pool. ​