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/thatdudewayoverthere]

I don't think people really understand my issues with this topic

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. 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

[u/[deleted] → u/thatdudewayoverthere]

It’s hilarious how people aren’t understanding your point.

[u/thatdudewayoverthere → u/[deleted]]

This obviously isn't the first time I annoyed others with this issue but I feel like people are missing the point on purpose

I'm not th guy coming Pat or going against culture are anything (even though I got a few PMs telling me to please quit)

[u/[deleted] → u/thatdudewayoverthere]

Dude it’s straight up idiocracy lol. 

“If everyone comes in early, then you must change shift times”

“YOU DONT CARE ABOUT YOUR BROTHERS”

[u/[deleted] → u/thatdudewayoverthere]

No, we get it. It's a culture of selflessness and the selfish don't like it. 

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

You clearly don’t get it.

If you’re shifts are 7-7, but everyone shows up 30 minutes early, then you’re shifts are just 6:30 - 6:30.

You just change the shift times 

[u/SanJOahu84 → u/thatdudewayoverthere]

How often are you getting late calls vs early jumps?

And how often are you coming in and popping a call right away?

You make it sound like you're routinely working 25 hours. 

[u/[deleted] → u/SanJOahu84]

Jesus Christ. The fact yall don’t understand this is an indictment on the American education system. 

Let me break it down. 

Your shifts are 7-7

Everyone comes in 30 minutes eating or relief. 

Then you just changed your shift times to 6:30 - 6:30.

If everyone comes in early, then you’re not actually getting early reliefs, you’re just changing your shift times. 

[u/SanJOahu84 → u/[deleted]]

That's only if you consider getting a late call at 6:30 equivalent to getting one at 7:00.

Which is a big city or anywhere with traffic definitely the difference between a good morning and getting fucked. 

And no, that doesn't mean we want earlier official start times either. Fuck waking up even earlier. 

Most of the guys in my department don't even leave that early even with an early jump. They leave on time.  Bullshitting, having a cup of coffee, and talking about fires during shift change is one of the best parts of the day in any real firehouse. 

[u/[deleted] → u/SanJOahu84]

 That's only if you consider getting a late call at 6:30 equivalent to getting one at 7:00.

They are equivalent is you have everyone show up 30 minutes early.