SAFER job share positions

[newbrightonfire]

Does anyone have experience with submitting a successful grant for job share positions? We are a paid-on-call department that has started seeing our response staffing decline, primarily on the weekends. I was thinking of asking for 3 positions which would be job shared amongst a total of 12 personnel to provide adequate weekend coverage via a duty crew on our first truck. Just looking to see what others might have submitted and if it was funded. Perhaps some of the grant gurus or others might be able to offer some insight? Thanks.

[BC79er_OLDDELETE]

Most of the all-volunteer departments do this moving into their first paid positions because then it avoids all of the full-time benefits on top of the salaries. Some of the smaller combination departments do also because the pay that they can match as part of the program is all they can afford to continue with. So since folks can't live on that they have other jobs, most career positions nearby. So the hires are taking 2nd jobs. It's the least expensive way to get a highly flexible staffing pool, that way if someone is sick, on vacation, injured, etc, then there is a pool of 7 others not on duty with you to fill in so you're not short.

[99mtk35]

Can we contract the position to another municipality? There is a City near us that has a career department, and we are currently all volunteer. It seems like it might work better for the same reasons BC79er is talking about above. We would also avoid the need to do all the IRS stuff.

[LVFD301]

Can we contract the position to another municipality? There is a City near us that has a career department, and we are currently all volunteer. It seems like it might work better for the same reasons BC79er is talking about above. We would also avoid the need to do all the IRS stuff.

What would that do to moral? Would not your people want first chance at the positions?

The IRS stuff is simple - lots of services out there that do a great job with it, for just a very small percentage.

[99mtk35]

I think very few of our members would be interested. Our demographic is mostly older members, who have established full time jobs. During the weekdays when we would want the person working they are all gone, hence the problem. I'm not sure we would do this just an idea and wondering if it’s allowable.

[BC79er_OLDDELETE]

You can't contract them to come into the area, the positions have to be created within your department. The IRS stuff is simple, they're part-time contract employees so you run to your favorite office supply store around now and pick up the 1099 kit which includes forms and software then you ship it off to the IRS after not doing any withholdings. Or buy Quickbooks with Payroll, or contact PayChex which is who I use. They handle all federal, state, and local withholdings and they can also run a 401k system if you decide to do retirement, Health Savings Accounts, etc.