Guest guest Posted December 28, 2002 Report Share Posted December 28, 2002 In a message dated 12/29/02 1:24:50 AM Central Standard Time, mickeym@... writes: > I was wondering what policies are in effect in regard to forced overtime in > your depts? It's agreed to when you are hired or you're not hired. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 28, 2002 Report Share Posted December 28, 2002 none here Kendal Currie Even though I'm working 13 hours that night Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 29, 2002 Report Share Posted December 29, 2002 At 02:29 AM 12/29/02 -0500, you wrote: >none here Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 29, 2002 Report Share Posted December 29, 2002 At 02:29 AM 12/29/02 -0500, you wrote: >It's agreed to when you are hired or you're not hired. Agreed to what? How many hours can they force you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 29, 2002 Report Share Posted December 29, 2002 At 12:08 AM 12/29/02 -0800, you wrote: >Everyone in our center (except shift supervisors and >management) has two days a week when they can be >forced to work OT. There is a list for each day. If >you work OT, forced or voluntary, on any day, you get >moved to the bottom of the list for both days. When >it comes time to force someone, whoever is at the top >of the list is the unlucky person. Thanks. How many consecutive hours can they force you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 29, 2002 Report Share Posted December 29, 2002 At 08:22 AM 12/29/02 +0000, you wrote: >do you have part time help? and if so, are they subject to the forced ot >requirements also? In our dept the part-times can't be forced, only the full timers. Primarily because the p/t-ers are call takers only. We only have a couple of actual part-timers and they, like the call takers, are limited to 20 hours a week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 29, 2002 Report Share Posted December 29, 2002 At 03:50 AM 12/29/02 -0500, you wrote: >Forced OT could happen - If someone is sick and no relief - but every >step is donr to make sure that person is reliefed. We work 10 hour days >and 14 hour nights , so there is no way to do a double per sae Sounds like it's not a common occurrence for you, that's great Unfortunately, we thought we were done with forces, but since we are down by 1/2 the manpower, they have come up again. We're on an 8 hr shift schedule and we have a gentleman's agreement that we aren't supposed to be forced more than 4 hours, but 8 is the norm now it seems. I appreciate everyone's feedback, thanks. Annmarie ~ mickeym@... ~ http://www.geocities.com/mickeyshomepage " Experience is the worst teacher. It always gives the test first and the instruction afterward. " ~ lin, Poor 's Almanac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 29, 2002 Report Share Posted December 29, 2002 At 03:54 AM 12/29/02 -0500, you wrote: >Forced OT in my opinion is not a bad thing as long as it is not abused. I think forced OT is horrible. We went through a period of time many years back when you didn't know if you'd be going home or not at the end of your shift. I had 40 hours of forced OT in less than a month. I know work anywhere from 16-24 hours over in a two week period, by choice. That's a 6 day week and then some. It's what a few of us have been doing now for months. I'm on vacation right now and I was just told that forcing has come back into effect. We base the force not on seniority, but on overtime worked, the more you work, the less chance you have of being forced. Even if you are a senior, if you have less time than a junior on that shift, you have to stay. I just hate to see us going back to this. 4 hours is one thing, you can possibly make arrangements, but constant 8 hours forces are ridiculous. It's not only an inconvenience to the person forced, but to their family, babysitters, etc. I also don't see that person as being in a particularly good state of mind to be dealing with the public and the road. I'm hoping to find some alternative to present. I don't know of a single one of us that would balk at emergency forcing, we've experienced that on more than one occasion and everyone comes together and does what needs to be done. But, vacation, personal time etc that has been on the books for months and not covered, that should have been dealt with in a better manner. Annmarie aka Mickey wench@... ~ mickeym@... http://www.geocities.com/mickeyshomepage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 29, 2002 Report Share Posted December 29, 2002 In my center, we are all working 4 hours forced OT every day. We work 5 12-hour shifts with (if you're lucky) 2 days off. I frequently get only one day off and there have been times that we have worked 12 12-hour shifts between days off. Fortunately the 12 days are rare. The OT for us is caused by a critical staff shortage. We are working at a 50% staffing level. We do have some " dispatchers in training " that will help relieve this problem when their training period is completed. Two are very close to completion. Two more are about half through the program. And another one starts training on Monday (Dec 30). When we get back to adequate staffing, we will drop back to 8-hour shifts with occasional OT to cover for vacations, sick leave, etc. I can hardly wait for that day to arrive. Bob Sawyer, Hutchinson, KS ===Original Message=== Hi, I was wondering what policies are in effect in regard to forced overtime in your depts? Thanks and great list, I've enjoyed lurking the last couple of weeks Annmarie aka Mickey wench@... ~ mickeym@... http://www.geocities.com/mickeyshomepage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 29, 2002 Report Share Posted December 29, 2002 At 10:33 AM 12/29/02 -0600, you wrote: >We can't work more then 12 hours in a row unless it's a crisis or >emergency situation. Those extra 4 hours come from sick time >mostly. Time needing to be filled in because of vacation or holiday time >is on a voluntary OT sign up system. We're at full staff. Thanks Jim. Are you unionized and is this a part of your contract? Annmarie aka Mickey wench@... ~ mickeym@... http://www.geocities.com/mickeyshomepage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 29, 2002 Report Share Posted December 29, 2002 At 08:52 AM 12/29/02 -0800, you wrote: >Annmarie, > >So, if you get forced to work OT, you are working a >double? Yes. 16 hours. And although they will not allow us to work back to back switches, which also result in 16 hour shifts, they have no rule on how many doubles in a row you can be forced into. And to answer my own questions to someone else, yes we are unionized, so to speak, we're Teamsters and they don't do anything for us. We are in the process of trying to break away from them. > The way we do it is this: Someone on evening >shift calls in sick. One person from day shift works >the first half of the shift and one person from >midnights works the second half. Do you force that person into work? Can they say no? And if they are being forced in, is this contractual? > So, each person is >working 12 hours. Sometimes the person that came in 4 >hours early is at risk of having to work another 4 >hours late. That's the only way anyone would work 16 >hours and I have never seen it happen. You're very, very lucky then Thanks Kim Annmarie aka Mickey wench@... ~ mickeym@... http://www.geocities.com/mickeyshomepage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 29, 2002 Report Share Posted December 29, 2002 At our agency we are not permitted to work more then 12 hours in a shift, in fact we work 12 hour shifts as it is, we work 3 twelve hour days and a 6 hour day to make a 42 hour week, we then get paid OT for the 2 hours. Except for emergencies such as hurricanes, etc.., we can refuse to work over time, and will not be written up for it. If at the end of the shift, there have been times that the shift coming on duty is short and that shifts supervisor will ask someone to stay an extra 2 hours, but most people after working 12 hours will not stay for 14 b/c many like myself live in another county an hour away. We are a decent size agency with a preferred min staff of 15 but we have worked as little as 6 at a time. We work in 2 hour blocks, so anyone wanting over time in comm can sign up for OT based on two hour blocks 07-09, 09-11 for ex. However, our agency has recently put an end to new volunteers to come work in comm from other dept's within our agency because many people will come work OT for two weeks, not to be seen again, b/c they simply had an extra bill to pay. So the admin put a stop to that so that the dispatchers would not have to waste time and money training someone for only that result. So, if its not an emergency, after my 12 hours, sorry but im going to my other home. Collier County Sheriffs Office, Naples, FL My opinions are just that, MINE! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 29, 2002 Report Share Posted December 29, 2002 Kim, It sounds like you have a pretty good place to work, and some good people to work with. But the things said in your post, cover most comm centers. And it's a shame they have to work this way. >Lots of times we get volunteers for the OT If you were properly paid, and properly staffed, there should be very little overtime period. >And, you can say no, but you will be written up and eventually probably fired if it happens continually. And that's simply wrong.... If it's EMERGENCY overtime, I'd agree completely. No one should be FORCED to work overtime unless it is an emergency situation. If it's overtime simply because you're not properly staffed... then that problem needs attention by administrators. >To me, it's a very efficient way of dealing with manning problems. Nope... the efficient way to deal with manning problems is to pay and staff the center properly. >And, the way it's set up, no one gets overtaxed on OT. Most don't get forced on both days they are eligible Why should they be FORCED on any day, unless it is an emergency? >We have a lot of volunteers, especially right before Christmas. They probably need the money. Why is that? I know... you're telling it like it is... not like it should be, but it still upsets me. And with the government money problems, I fear it's going to get much worse before there is any daylight at the end of the tunnel. These things seem to run in cycles, and it will get better, but it's just a good thing that there are many dedicated, caring, responsible Dispatchers to make it through the rough times. Weintraut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 7, 2003 Report Share Posted January 7, 2003 I have bad opinion on this one I think for this one I better not give mt 2 cents lol Jeff Noonan 14-42 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 7, 2003 Report Share Posted January 7, 2003 lol I hear ya though the bad Jeff tells me to post lol Jeff Noonan 14-42 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 7, 2003 Report Share Posted January 7, 2003 Hi, I just wanted to thank everyone for their great responses to my question about forced OT, I appreciate the input. Annmarie ~ mickeym@... ~ http://www.geocities.com/mickeyshomepage " Experience is the worst teacher. It always gives the test first and the instruction afterward. " ~ lin, Poor 's Almanac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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