Re: 911:: Looking for responses...

[Guest guest]

MickeyM wrote:::

" After reading your entire post, I mean no disrespect, but if the people you

work with can't even show up for work on time, I don't see how they can be

expected to pay attention to their work and watch TV. From a supervisory

vantage point, I'd be doubtful.  And because of it, I think you'll have a

hard time convincing them that everyone is responsible enough. A *very*

basic argument can be that they'll never know unless they try. And what

time does your shift start? At 7, or ? Are they requiring you to be there

15 min before a shift starts? If so, are they paying you for that time?

Sorry I don't have any better ideas. "

ED wrote:::

" Bottom line, you know how long it takes to get to work from your house. You

should be able to subtract that amount of time from the time work starts and

determine a reasonable time to leave the house. If you can't do that,

perhaps you should be schlepping Sluprees at the local 7-Eleven. But don't

be late, they'll fire ya'. "

Here is the deal, we work 12.50hrs per day 3 days a week and one 6.50hour day

on weds. Thats the schedule, its 15 min before our shift that we have to be

there and 15 min after that we can leave. On weds, both sides of the week

overlap and thats why we have the 6.50hours. We dont get lunch breaks, we

get 15 min breaks about 2-3 times a day, no lunch breaks what so ever, we

have to eat and work at the same time, so its easy to say that we eat a lot

of cold meals. I might have a bias opinion, but Im pretty sure that who I

work with can handle more responsibility then schlepping Sluprees at the

local 7-Eleven. We are the largest land area county in Florida, and our

sheriff just happens to be the leading law enforcement official toward

fighing terrorism in Florida. So those comments are not welcome, thanks but

no thanks. I was looking for serious responses and thank you to those who

sent them. I just wanted to see how relaxed other agencies are on their late

policy. And someone wrote that your supervisor is your employer. Really? I

have never checked but i dont think their name is on the left side top area

of my paycheck.

My opinion is just that, MINE!

[Guest guest]

Ok.. Here comes old hardnose...

Everyone on the list probably knows how I feel about

TV in the Comm Center... but Jim put it very well...

>A TV is a perk, not a right or a need.

As far as a late sign in sheet... 30 seconds may seem to be

a bit much... but if you are paid to be at work a certain time,

you should be at work at that time.... period....

>nearly half of all dispatchers work 30+ miles away and nearly 15% of the 60

comm center dispatchers live out of county

And they all know how far it is to work, and what time they are

supposed to be there.

And the punishment setup really doesn't seem too bad, they

are giving you 5 times in a quarter, that should be more than

enough to cover any emergencies.

It sounds like (and I'm just guessing) that things have been ran

a little loose... and they are tightening the reins a little...

Sorry... I don't like TV in the Comm Center, and have no patience

with people who don't show up for work on time.

Weintraut

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[Guest guest]

I agree with you, Jim. I can't stand our TV. I work with the semi-deaf ones

on days and it is so damn loud, that I have gotten up and shut it off. As

far as I am concerned, it should be left on the weather or new channels and

that's it.

Being late is my pet peeve! I work with a supervisor who can't seem to get

to work on time. He was let slide so many times in the past, it was almost

like a game. Now that are tardiness policy is in place....SURPRISE! He's not

late anymore! Being late consistently or frequently is a slap in the face to

your coworkers...somehow, your time is more important than theirs!

A Katt

michelle_katt@... (personal)

kattm@... (work)

(wireless)

(home)

[Guest guest]

I am also one that feels that a T.V. in the Comm. Center is not needed. So

on that part, I don't feel for you

As for the being late part. I have been dispatching 13years. I have lived

anywhere from 1 1/2 hours one way drive to the comm. center, to now only

15min drive to the comm. center. I have been late ONCE in those 13 years.

And that was because I was rear ended on the way to work one day. I am

very big on being on time, even being early to get your stuff in order

before you sit down. I think I am late if I am not at work 30min prior to

the start of my shift. That gives me time to get my stuff, put my food

away, and do whatever else I want to do. I can't stand people who are late

ever other day. Then they wine that it takes them an hour to drive to work.

Well I was not the one who decided to move an hour away from work.

We are not as lucky as you. We don't get 8 shots before we get corrective

action or disciplinary action. Now if one person is late 8 times in 90

days, in my owe eyes I think they should be fired.

Again you have a great comm. center. You can watch TV, and be late 8 times

in 90 days

Jim

Columbus Police

Columbus Ohio

[Guest guest]

>And someone wrote that your supervisor is your employer. Really? I

have never checked but i dont think their name is on the left side top area

of my paycheck.<

I certainly didn't mean that your supervisor was your employer.

However, they represent your employer in matters concerning

policy.... including tardiness....

As I clarified in a later post.

>but although they are not the " boss " , they are supervisors, and in charge

of enforcing policy. <

Weintraut

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[Guest guest]

Along the lines of the Tardiness issue Mickey brings up a point

that I have seen debated in my previous two centers. If they require

you to be there 15 minutes early do they pay you for it? In a land

long long ago when I began my career as a dispatcher, We had to be at

our console 10 minutes prior to your shift (6:20 vs. 6:30am) The

intent was information exchange with the dispatcher you were

relieving, generally this was very little and the person could

leave. Occassionally they may have been in the middle of something

and finished it, but generally not the norm. Our work hours were

6:30-2:30 8 hrs, not 8hrs & 10 minutes. I cannot remember if this

was written but it definetly was courtesy and common practice. In

both of my previous centers, there were people who occassionaly

pushed the button regarding, I'm not paid for it, I'll be there at

6:30. How do centers deal with this point (I realize those of us

that consider ourselves professional are there in plenty of time).

How do you fight the naysayers and instill that 10 minute overlap

without compensation - especially when someone contests it?

> After reading your entire post, I mean no disrespect, but if the

people you

> work with can't even show up for work on time, I don't see how they

can be

> expected to pay attention to their work and watch TV. From a

supervisory

> vantage point, I'd be doubtful. And because of it, I think you'll

have a

> hard time convincing them that everyone is responsible enough. A

*very*

> basic argument can be that they'll never know unless they try. And

what

> time does your shift start? At 7, or ? Are they requiring you to be

there

> 15 min before a shift starts? If so, are they paying you for that

time?

> Sorry I don't have any better ideas.

[Guest guest]

AIN'T THAT THE TRUTH!

> > " to be at our post before 0600

>

> But have you ever noticed that those who arrive right at 0600...

> seem to think it's ok to leave 15 or 20 minutes early..

>

> " along as my relieve is here "

>

> Drove me nuts.

>

> Weintraut

>

[Guest guest]

<<< it is still strange how much we veterans think alike. Maybe it is

because we are from the " old " school. I too feel a communication

center is no place for a TV, a commercial radio is enough on low volume.>>

At my agency we've talked about things like this in terms of the work ethic.

When I was growing up my mom was in the mold of the " Girls " , she ALWAYS

wore a hat, gloves and the seam in her hose was always straight -- she had a

real hard time going to panty hose with no seam. She raised us the same way

-- we were taught you are NEVER to call in sick on a Monday or Friday -- drag

yourself in and get sent home but NEVER call in sick, always be a few minutes

early to compose yourself before starting, radios and TV were for relaxation

at home and look unprofessional at work as well as being distracting.

Its stuck with me for all the years I've been working. I work with a few

people in their mid-20's and some are of the same mind-set -- NEVER call in

sick on Monday or Friday, always been there a few early, etc. (all but the

glove and hat thing). And others, even in their 40's who will blast the TV,

show up on the dot, complain about being held over.

I live 10 minutes away -- I leave about 30 minutes early and stop and pick up

my coffee, check my mail and just in case its really really busy I'll plug in

and field a few calls and leave it on my own time cause I figure later on at

some point its going to mellow out and I may want to go get another coffee or

relax in the break room for a few minutes.

And there's a lot of nights I have unplugged on time and the phones have gone

off like crazy and I've plugged right back in and taken the calls and then

just gone home when its over with no fuss. But its all how I was brought up.