Originally Posted by
claymond
On the staffing stuff:
At the start of this season, temps were told that they could work up to 1700 something hours instead of 1039. I don't know if that was related to covid or if that will continue into the future. I call bullshit on working someone that long and calling them a temp still. The 1039 long term temp employee thing is BS to begin with.
R5 at least is actively trying to get to an 80 percent permanent firefighting workforce. Made up of 26/0 and 18/8. Rumor is other regions are moving this way as well, though probably with 13/13s mostly.
As meadowskipper said, a move to a mostly permanent, more year round workforce would be a massive change. One I support and think needs to happen. But without changes in scheduling, one I see causing more burnout. At least some of those hotshot crews who laid off temps at 150 days vs 180 did it for good reasons beyond lack of funding:
At 1000 plus hours of OT and continuous 14 day assignments for 5-6 months, it's likely a crew is no longer physically or mentally capable of safely performing at the standards of an IHC. That's my personal experience along with plenty of co-workers experiences. Pushing things later one year, maybe not a huge deal. Year in and year out, different story.
Personal lives have been neglected to non-existent since the spring. Once again, one year here and there that personal lives need to be put on the back burner for another few weeks, probably not a deal breaker. Year after year after year, for entire careers, gonna lose alot of good people.
So, my ideas for having a more permanent fire work force:
Do away with temp positions. After 12 months of work-approx two seasons- everyone, regardless of qualifications or GS level, gets a permanent seasonal position with all the benefits that includes.
Stagger module start dates. This already happens somewhat- Southwest crews usually start earlier because their fire season starts earlier. But it needs done all around. From what I can tell, in most years, this would provide enough resources.
If staggering resources isn't feasible and year round staffing is needed(in most places I don't think it is), some bigger things have to change. Instead of 14 days on/2 days r&r, something like 14 days work/7 days off I think would be needed (if you're on an assignment). Physically, no one's recovering for shit on 2 days off. Mentally, six months spent with basically no outside life is tough enough.
For those who don't know some terms:
1039/temp employees: 1039 hours is the maximum base hours an employee can work and still be called a temp. 1039 hours is one hour short of six months of forty hour per week base hours. Overtime doesn't count in this equation, a few years I've gotten more overtime hours than base hours.
26/0, 18/8, 13/13: The number of pay period a permanent employee is guaranteed to work/ the number they could have off. A 26/0 is year round, 18/8 is about 8 months working/4 months off. 13/13, 6 months on 6 months off.
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