Boston Firefighters given new schedules to curb sick-day abuse

[Viper 139]

Boston Firefighters given new schedules to curb sick-day abuse

Boston Fire Commissioner Joseph E. Finn, in his first major initiative since taking the job in July, is moving to tighten the work schedules of the city’s 1,400 firefighters to eliminate rampant misuse of sick time and ripe-for-corruption swapping and selling of shifts.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/09/12/fire-commissioner-finn-tightens-work-schedule-tests-hour-shifts/4arcIt2jfISdorkwABNCbK/story.html

[kinkchaser 352]

24 hour shift alone is just a shift, it is not designed to solve all the problems Boston thinks it will.

[FirNaTine 370]

Isn't it a shame people just can't go to work and have to abuse the s*** out of the System! Sick leave is there to be used not abused! Unbelievable!

[SOlsonBFDL14 35]

Talk about a misleading headline! Nowhere in the article is there ANY evidence of "rampant misuse of sick time" yet it IS mentioned SEVERAL times in the article that the concern was mainly about swapping of shifts. Commissioner Finn made it clear to us that his main goal with this pilot program, scheduled to run until the middle of August 2015, was to ensure crew continuity. Prior to the start of the program you had guys doing straight tours (10/14 off, 10/14 3 off), first day back (14 off, 10/24 4 off) & 24's (24 on 48 off, 24 on 96 off). This is designed to eliminate the variances. Swaps are still allowed, only now you cannot owe more than 70 hours or else your ability to swap will be halted until you go below that threshold. I've already swapped two of my 24's this month due to family obligations, I've also paid the tours back so I'm at 0 as far as owing hours. Since sick time will still be taken in either 10 or 14 hour increments, I'm not sure how there will be any reduction in the "rampant misuse of sick time". The Globe does NOT like us as has written MANY negative articles about us. As always, consider the source.

And we DO go to work & not abuse the s*** out of the system. Do some research before you cast aspersions!

[x152 179]

Interesting to note that the new Boston Commish/Chief is promoting the 24 and down the coastline in DCFD, the former gem of a Chief was promoting the benefits of taking it away.

We switched about 10 years ago and heard many of the same concerns generated by those in opposition. Unfortunately for them, it was a fear of change that they were riding on more than anything of substance.