Hoffman Estates Fire Department Standard Operating Guidelines PDF

HOFFMAN ESTATES FIRE DEPARTMENT STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINES SOG Category & Identification Number: EFFECTIVE DATE: OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES – 016 January 1, 2022 NIMS COMPLIANT SOG T...

HOFFMAN ESTATES FIRE DEPARTMENT STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINES SOG Category & Identification Number: EFFECTIVE DATE: OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES – 016 January 1, 2022 NIMS COMPLIANT SOG Title: Change of Shift Assignments and Position Revision: Vacancies 1 APPROVED BY: NUMBER OF PAGES: Re-evaluation Date: Alan Wax January 1, 2024 Fire Chief 2 PURPOSE The Collective Bargaining Agreement allows for Change of Shift Assignments. Also, from time to time, Change of Shift Assignments must be made by the Fire Chief. This guideline will discuss specifics of this process. POLICY 1. A written request to exchange shift assignments may be submitted directly to the Fire Chief at any time. The request will be kept on file until such time as it is approved or the requesting firefighter no longer desires to exchange shift assignment. 2. Whenever an opportunity arises that may allow the department to accommodate an exchange of shift assignment, the written requests on file will be considered. If multiple requests are on file which meets the criteria for the shift change, the exchange of shift assignment will be offered first to the senior member (based upon fire department hiring date). The member shall have the ability to accept or refuse the offer. 3. Whenever possible, the Fire Chief will provide the President of Local 2061 the estimated date of employee retirements, the hiring dates of new employees, and/or the anticipated date when an exchange of shift assignment will take place. Dates provided are only estimates and may not be exact. 4. Every retirement or hiring of a new firefighter may not allow an exchange of shift assignment. 5. If an exchange of shift assignment occurs and does not coincide with the vacation/compensation day and station/regular apparatus selection the following shall occur: a. If exchange of shift assignment is a voluntary request, the member shall schedule his/her remaining benefit time on shift days that were vacated by the member leaving or in accordance with Article IX Section 2 (vacation selection) of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Also, FLSA requirements must be followed. 1  b. If exchange of shift assignment is not voluntary, the department will work with the member to accommodate pre-scheduled plans such as vacations, etc. c. In some cases, benefit time may be “carried over” until the next calendar year. 6. The President of Local 2061 will be notified by the Fire Chief if selected vacation or compensation days are permanently vacated due to retirements, shift changes, etc. The President of Local 2061 may elect to allow other shift members to select the vacated days, and may utilize any process that does not violate FLSA requirements. The Fire Chief reserves the right to identify limitations to accommodate the potential hiring of new firefighters. 7. The President of Local 2061 will be notified by the Fire Chief of vacant chosen positions due to retirements, shift changes, etc. The President of Local 2061 may elect to allow other members to choose the vacant position, and may utilize any process to allow this to occur. If the vacant positions are not filled, the Shift Commander may assign personnel as needed. 8. If a situation occurs where a member will be temporarily or permanently assigned by the Fire Chief to a different shift, the least senior (fire department hiring date) qualified member who has not previously temporarily or permanently transferred at the direction of the Fire Chief to another shift shall be assigned. Specifics related to vacation/compensation time and station/apparatus selection shall be determined on a case by case basis. a. If a temporary assignment becomes a permanent assignment, the firefighter who was temporarily assigned has the first opportunity to accept the permanent assignment. EXCEPTIONS REFERENCES DEFINITIONS End of Document 2