Morale Booster Thoughts...

[CommanderSims]

As I am sure it is just about everywhere.... morale is in the pitts....

Thoughts on how to bring it back up?

Some things that have already gotten passed/implemented at my department:

I started making custom leather radio straps, helmet straps, belts, etc... and have been allowed to wear them on emergency calls by the chief. I got the chiefs approval prior to wearing them at the station.

I spoke with the chief about customizing our helmets with custom tets, shields, etc (everything within reason) but was turned down in the effort to promote uniformity. (Half our department has already customized their helmets at out stations, again I was trying to do it through the proper channels).

"Family" dinners. Having neighboring stations come over for dinner on occasion.



Some other ideas I plan on attempting to put in place:

Inside department sports tournament. Ie: Baskeball, flag football, ultimate Frisbee

Department Cook outs/ cook offs




I would really appreciate any other ideas. Please remember that it is easier to ask for a piece of the pie as opposed to the whole thing. A friend, and chief officer at a neighboring department, brought up an example of rather than asking to be allowed to sit down and eat at restaurants on a regular basis, rather ask to be allowed to sit down at restaurants for special occasions from time to time.

I appreciate your time...

Chief officers... I am especially interested to hear your input on the ideas provided to get your opinions on each topic as to the pros and cons that you see with these and that might prevent them from being approved.

[fire5555]

As I am sure it is just about everywhere.... morale is in the pitts....

NO

Do you have some particular problems you are dealing with???

[johnsb]

It's a proven fact that most statisfaction that people find in a job is not from the salary they recieve, it's from being appreciated and having a sense of worth.
Outside of the fire service, one of the best jobs I ever had (didn't pay much), was for a Japanese owned company that supplied Honda factories. They were constantly asking for input from the employees. They would actually listen to your ideas and recommendations, and implement them if they thought they were a good idea. If they didn't think they would work, they'd actually tell you why they wouldn't work. That to me proved they were listening to me and made me feel like I was important to the company. I'd probably still be working there if I hadn't been hired by the FD.

[scfire86]

A couple of things. First off. How about injecting some perspective into their lives. The economy is sluggish at best. Ask your colleagues what skillset they possess that will earn them their present salary in the private sector?

As far as them not feeling appreciate. By who? Are they doing this job for the strokes? Or are they doing it to earn a living and provide for their families?

[FyredUp]

A couple of things. First off. How about injecting some perspective into their lives. The economy is sluggish at best. Ask your colleagues what skillset they possess that will earn them their present salary in the private sector?

There is an obvious element of truth to that. Unfortunately some simply can't or won't see it from that perspective. Having worked several private sector jobs before getting hired by the FD I understand that job market.

As far as them not feeling appreciate. By who? Are they doing this job for the strokes? Or are they doing it to earn a living and provide for their families?

I actually find that in most cases the guys who view the fire department as just a place to earn a living and provide for their families are usually the most disgruntled and the first to crab and complain when everything doesn't go their way. To me it has aways been more than just a job. Hell, maybe in today's fire service I am the minority in that thought pattern.

Happy workers are productive workers.

[nameless]

A couple of things. First off. How about injecting some perspective into their lives. The economy is sluggish at best. Ask your colleagues what skillset they possess that will earn them their present salary in the private sector

That's like telling your wife, I hit you, but the neighbor would hit you harder. If I had to guess morale is probably low at this department because they are being blamed for the localities alleged fiscal problems, and their chief isn't doing anything to defend them. Elected officals are calling them lazy and overpaid, while asking more and more of them. When they try to point out legitamite evidence of being stretched thin, they are ignored.

As far as them not feeling appreciate. By who? Are they doing this job for the strokes? Or are they doing it to earn a living and provide for their families?

See above, its not being told how great we are, its about not being told how horrible/lazy/unskilled/etc we are by our department heads or elected officials.

[BoxAlarm187]

How about injecting some perspective into their lives. The economy is sluggish at best. Ask your colleagues what skillset they possess that will earn them their present salary in the private sector?

"I understand you may not be happy here, but you'd likely be unhappier somewhere else, making less money, so smile!"

That's the kind of motivation I wish my supervisors would use on me. Great way of making them feel like part of the team!

[CommanderSims]

"I understand you may not be happy here, but you'd likely be unhappier somewhere else, making less money, so smile!"

That's the kind of motivation I wish my supervisors would use on me. Great way of making them feel like part of the team!

You don't like it? Then quit, there are hundreds of others waiting to take your position."

Problems we are dealing with? I will answer that two ways as I am not sure which way your asking...

We haven't received a raise in the past 6 years, no cost of living, no step raises for years of service, nothing... they took away all of our holidays except for Christmas day and Thanksgiving day, but at the same time the white shirts received a nice raise a few years in to the down turn... talk about a nice kick in the pants. Due to the lower pay scale most of our guys within retirement age are loosing money for their retirement as it is based on your best 5 out of the last 10 years income. So, the lower pay they are making now is causing them to lose on their retirement. People are leaving left and right for either different departments with better pay or different jobs with better pay such as the railroad. These seasoned veterans are being replaced by snubbed nosed fire science degree graduates who are super green and are continuously being put in positions that is going to get someone killed very soon. Then the fact that we have multiple full-time positions open that aren't being filled so another white shirt spot could be created (I see the good in this position though not all see it) causing us to work with more GAR part-timers putting us again in a hard position of having a lot more inexperience on scenes than experience.

That's just a few. I personally understand a majority of the reasoning behind why the things are happening... economy being the #1 factor. I personally know that our department heads and hire ups are not doing this intentionally and actually believe they are doing a jam up job with what they are being given to work with. However... not all the ff's in the department are able to see things as I do and therefore moral is in a position that you have to pull out the back hoes to find it.

The other side of the "problems" goes to the fact that we are losing experienced guys left and right and are being replaced by greener than green rookies who think they know everything because they sat in a classroom and were taught by other green rookies who just graduated the class prior (no joke). That, my friend, is a major problem in my book. We had a fire the other day and the number of experienced guys (as in guys with more than 5 years as these are becoming our "experienced" guys now) were 50/50. 4 seasoned guys, actually had some years this time, to 4 rookies with the most experienced rookie having 2 years.

Not feeling appreciated? Yeah, our hire ups could do a much better job at showing appreciation. But then again... its hard to appreciate work that is performed at the level of doing the bare minimum to get by. But that mindset has come as a result of the low morale... AHH the circle of life......

Again... just looking for some ideas to up the brotherhood and in turn morale. Things are pretty ruff and don't appear to be getting any better anytime soon as in not for a few more years...

[GTRider245]

This is a ****ty way to lead, and just adds to the morale problems. The "it could always be worse" approach doesn't make for happy employees, it makes for barely content ones. If you would be the kind of chief who is fine with that, good for you. Fact is there are better leaders out there who actually give a damn about employee self worth and job satisfaction. We all know it isn't going to be green pastures all the time, but turning a blind eye to the issue and using blanket statements like yours is nothing but a scapegoat for chiefs who are too lazy to care.

For those, it is time to retire and let someone else take lead.

[GTRider245]

^ That was to SC, by the way.

[Bones42]

...We haven't received a raise in the past 6 years, no cost of living, no step raises for years of service, nothing... they took away all of our holidays except for Christmas day and Thanksgiving day, but at the same time the white shirts received a nice raise a few years in to the down turn... talk about a nice kick in the pants. Due to the lower pay scale most of our guys within retirement age are loosing money for their retirement as it is based on your best 5 out of the last 10 years income. So, the lower pay they are making now is causing them to lose on their retirement. People are leaving left and right for either different departments with better pay or different jobs with better pay such as the railroad. These seasoned veterans are being replaced by snubbed nosed fire science degree graduates who are super green and are continuously being put in positions that is going to get someone killed very soon. Then the fact that we have multiple full-time positions open that aren't being filled so another white shirt spot could be created (I see the good in this position though not all see it) causing us to work with more GAR part-timers putting us again in a hard position of having a lot more inexperience on scenes than experience...

You have all this going on yet in another post you talk about whether guys should volunteer to do things at the FD or only if they get paid?

[slackjawedyokel]

anticipation of something is usually better than the actual event. Something as simple as hot wings on Monday night football can be a big boost if there is a "lead up" - also one of the biggest morale boosters , is to be the best. Make your training fun - but make it tough, do it often and always add something new to it.

[The52nd]

I don't know how much it would boost moral, but I'd start a committee at the union to explore ways to change that retirement/pension policy. Maybe instead of the best 5 out of the last 10, you could get best 3 over your career. If you're not getting raises, you should at least not loose in the deal. Often banding together over an issue brings guys closer. If you succeed,.....

[CommanderSims]

You have all this going on yet in another post you talk about whether guys should volunteer to do things at the FD or only if they get paid?

I wasn't asking if they should... I don't think... I was just getting opinions. The idea behind that was do you feel that if you keep volunteering for things that the department will never reimburse you for the added effort and work you put into making the department a better place.

... but that is that post....

I appreciate all the input. I have just been appointed/volunteered (however that works) to start and direct our new IT/Technology committee. In this we will begin putting out a newsletter each month as well as updating our website. I plan to take this opportunity to shine the light on more of the positive aspects of the department as well as work really hard to get rid of a lot of the "he said she said" gossip that goes around. Getting the hard facts out on current issues. This I think can be a major factor in bringing morale back up.

[FyredUp]

Commander Sims...

I don't have any answers to your issues within your department. But I can't help myself in correcting the use of the wrong word in your posts. It is not hire ups, it is higher ups.

Honestly, if things are as crappy there as the picture you paint I sincerely doubt a sunshine and light news letter is going to make things better. I am nearing retirement myself and if I knew the fact that I hadn't gotten a raise in 6 years and that because of that I was losing money every year I stayed there isn't much you are going to say to change my poor morale. The removal of holidays is interesting, did they do that to ALL city employees including management? If not why just the FD? If I was a young guy I would be leaving that sinking ship as soon as I could get a different job because from your description there is no future there. It sounds like your FD is heading into being a AA farm club for other FDs.

[The52nd]

Honestly, if things are as crappy there as the picture you paint I sincerely doubt a sunshine and light news letter is going to make things better. I am nearing retirement myself and if I knew the fact that I hadn't gotten a raise in 6 years and that because of that I was losing money every year I stayed there isn't much you are going to say to change my poor morale. The removal of holidays is interesting, did they do that to ALL city employees including management? If not why just the FD? If I was a young guy I would be leaving that sinking ship as soon as I could get a different job because from your description there is no future there. It sounds like your FD is heading into being a AA farm club for other FDs.

I think this is spot on.

Raising moral is important, but some things, like custom radio straps, are nothing more than just window dressing. You've identified several issues that have caused moral to deteriorate, so address those issues. You guys are union, right? Issues like raises are usually addressed in the contact. Get he guys to rally around th union, and get a decent contract worked out. Also, raises for the white shirt, but not the guys? That's a contrat issue, too. For that to have happened the membership would have had to ratify a contract that gave the bosses a raise but not themselves. In fact the loss of the holidays is a contract issue, too. Maybe the problem isn't the administration, but the local?

Either way, you need to decide what issues will most increase moral, and get the guys involved in making a change. Think outside the box a little bit. Like my last suggestion; perhaps if you can't get a raises regularly, you,could change your retirement so guy going out on down years don't get hurt. If holidays are an issue, perhaps you can rally to get the guys a couple of floating holidays, or a holiday check.

Of course, nothing boosts moral like a couple of good fires, but we don't have any control over that.

[Dickey]

This sign in my office has seemed to improve morale significantly.