r/Firefighting • u/thatdudewayoverthere • Apr 30 '25

General Discussion I hate the coming early culture in Firefighting

So because everyone said something about this o taught I might as well.

I hate the fact that it's standard that every shows up early.

To give you an example: At my Department we officially get paid from 6:45 to 7 so 24:15h but it's standard in my department that everyone shows up at around 6-6:15.

So we basically artificially moved our shift time one hour early 6-6 instead of 7-7. In the end everyone still works 24 hours no matter what time you actually start.

Big edit because people don't seem to get my point:

We all Still work 24 hours nobody is actually getting relieved earlier since everyone obviously expects to be relieved by 0615

But if you happen to catch a late call before you get relieved you don't get paid for that call.

For Example:

If I work from 6-6 I worked 24 hours if I get a late call at 5:45 and now worked till 7 I now worked 25 hours

But because my official shift time is 7-7 I only get paid 24 hours even though I worked 25

This problem wouldn't exist if not for the everyone coming in early

This is not supposed to be a discussion about when is a good time for shift change to beat traffic or have more from the day but instead of coming in early and working for free we should just put pressure on our departments to change the shift times to what we actually want

Please share your opinions on this but I personally think it's just annoying and it would be easier if every just shows up when they are paid to do so (plus of course 10-15 minutes to actually get ready)

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7

u/thatdudewayoverthere Apr 30 '25

I get that you should be ready to work when your work starts I'm not arguing against it

But who gains from everyone coming in early as standard?

12

u/tubarizzle Apr 30 '25

The guy who doesn't have to get off an hour late because he got a call at 6:30.

8

u/thatdudewayoverthere Apr 30 '25

Yeah but if gets a call at 5:30 he still got off an hour late of you normally get relieved at 6 just that now he doesn't get OT pay because he officially works till 7

2

u/tubarizzle Apr 30 '25

The difference between getting a call at 530 and 630 when you're off at 7 is huge.

7

u/thatdudewayoverthere Apr 30 '25

Yeah I know but in my department it's standard that everyone arrives and relieves between 6-6:15 besides officially working till 7

So in practice we work from 6-6 instead of 7-7 that's why I said there is no difference

0

u/Paramountmorgan Apr 30 '25

I think the day will come when you have something important the day you are getting off. You'll appreciate the person who rolls in at 6:25 with a cup of coffee in their hand and a full knowledge of the truck, equipment, and the job and you'll be able bounce at 6:30 like it's no big deal. For me, I grew up in the culture of, "You leave your house early enough so that if your car breaks down you enough time to walk the rest of the way."

1

u/jon30041 IL FF/PM Apr 30 '25

Technically my department starts at 8. The culture has almost everyone showing up around 545 or 6.

Everyone benefits because you get to skip our notorious traffic jams that are unending from around 630am until 7pm. Person getting off can get home early enough to get kids ready and to school. If we had actual 8am change, then no one helps at home before or after shift.

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u/thatdudewayoverthere Apr 30 '25

Yeah I get traffic and everything but if your department would just change the official start time to 6 there would be no issues with OT pay for late calls or any issues with workman comb if someone got injured while not on the clock

1

u/tiedtothetides0104 Apr 30 '25

It's a cultural thing. Be there for your guys if a late call comes in. Talk, engage, build your departments morale. Maximize kitchen time.

-1

u/wessex464 Apr 30 '25

Everyone that needs to be somewhere at the end of shift. I have kids to get to school. Or maybe people just want to be able to leave at 7 when I've been there for 24 hours.

It's not hard to understand. You aren't going in early to work. You are going in early to hangout and MAYBE go on a call a few minutes before your shift starts strictly as a favor to the off going crew if they don't want the overtime. That doesn't mean your starting truck checks or training at 630. It means coffee and some healthy firehouse banter for 30 minutes with people you're supposed to know and trust.

3

u/thatdudewayoverthere Apr 30 '25

Yeah but since everyone is doing this you basically only move your shift times earlier than they actually are

1

u/wessex464 Apr 30 '25

At my station that last 30 minutes when both crews are there is coffee and chill time. You get to unwind from the shift and do pass on for the next crew. It's still generally expected to stay until 7ish, but if you have somewhere to be once in a while that's fine. The point is to have some overlap with your coworkers, people you're supposed to trust and that you don't see but 30 minutes every few days.