I hate the coming early culture in Firefighting

[u/thatdudewayoverthere]

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)

[u/Gam3f3lla]

Coming in a little early gives you time to get into uniform, check med bags, check radios, check gear, check the apparatus, etc. Etc....

So when your shift actually starts... you are confident in eq and ready to go.

Pretty standard.

[u/Roscobaron → u/Gam3f3lla]

I get this, it makes sense, but isn't doing stuff like that part of the job and therefore stuff you should be getting paid to do?

[u/Gam3f3lla → u/Roscobaron]

I'd say being 100% confident your eq, rig, and med bags are ready to go once your shift starts is part of the job.

[u/Roscobaron → u/Gam3f3lla]

Yeah, if it's part of your job I'd say you should be getting paid for it.

[u/[deleted] → u/Roscobaron]

We do truck checks at 7, but being in your uniform, shaved, and whatever other personal things you need to take care of need to be done before your shift starts. No one is paying you to put clothes on.

[u/Roscobaron → u/[deleted]]

Okay but that's not what the guy I was replying to said.

[u/[deleted] → u/Gam3f3lla]

We have guys that don't get this. Your shift starts at whatever time. That means the other shift is handing it off to you and you are prepared to run calls. If you walk in at 6:58 for your 7:00 shift still in regular clothes, no shave, etc, then you may as well be late because you aren't prepared to work.

[u/FeelingBlue69 → u/Gam3f3lla]

get into uniform

did that at home

check med bags, check radios, check gear, check the apparatus,

You do realize this can be done AT WORK when you start working? This is literally what I get paid to do so I will do it when my shift starts.

[u/Gam3f3lla → u/FeelingBlue69]

Yes, I realize that.

Hypothetical situation... you get to work at beginning of shift, and a cardiac incident comes in 1 minute after shift starts. You didn't have time to complete your regular checks. You respond and realize the previous shift forgot to restock the AED properly for whatever reason. Now you cannot handle the incident properly because of missing equipment.

What do you do in that situation?

I know situations like this are unlikely, but it IS possible. How do you handle that knowing this could have been prevented if a proper eq was already completed?

Not trying to "beat a dead horse", I'm genuinely curious...

[u/FeelingBlue69 → u/Gam3f3lla]

A situation like this wouldn't happen. No good crew would leave something as critical as an AED not stocked properly and even if they did, it would be included on the pass on.

[u/[deleted] → u/Gam3f3lla]

 Coming in a little early gives you time to get into uniform, check med bags, check radios, check gear, check the apparatus, etc. Etc....

I’m fine with that as long as I can clock in. The expectation I’ve seen is that you do all that off the clock. 

[u/ForbiddenNut123 → u/Gam3f3lla]

Yeah I usually show up 45min to an hour early and I usually still don’t finish before shift technically starts.

[u/4friedChckensandCoke → u/ForbiddenNut123]

So you work a free extra hour every shift?

[u/ForbiddenNut123 → u/4friedChckensandCoke]

Yeah I guess so, but I don’t mind. I’d show up the same time if I didn’t have anything to check, I like to have some time to get myself mentally prepared for the day. So it doesn’t really bother me, I could see how that would be an issue with others.