Schedule Changes and IFT Shift Bids

Effective:          09-17-24           

Supersedes:    

Purpose: To define the process for schedule changes and schedule bids.

Policy: Employees are expected to adhere to their assigned schedules for a minimum period of six (6) months. All schedule changes, bids and exceptions are governed by this policy to ensure a fair and consistent approach.

Exceptions to this policy may be made for unforeseen life events or for employees who are students. In such cases, management may consider a shift change request without requiring a complete schedule change.

 

Procedure:

Regular Vacancies

  1. Eligibility for Schedule Changes
    Barring exceptional circumstances, employees are not eligible to request schedule changes until the completion of six (6) months of employment. After this period, employees may request to change their schedule during designated bid periods

  2. Bid Periods for Schedule Changes
    The company will hold IFT bid periods twice annually:

  3. The company will hold 911 bid periods Quarterly:

  4. No A La Carte Shift Changes
    Schedule changes are not available on a shift a la carte basis at the master schedule level. Any request for a change in a single shift will require the employee to bid for an entirely new schedule.

 

Seniority Considerations

Shift bids will be awarded to the qualified senior employee, subject to operational needs or requirements of municipal contracts or requirements of facilities in the service area, which may include but are not limited to:

·         Level of certification/licensure

·         Experience, length of service at the certification level

·         Type of experience, rescue vs. transfer assignment

·         Knowledge of service area/facilities

·         Knowledge of the local EMS system

·         Local/regional medical control credentials

 

When an employee is not awarded a shift bid, management shall notify the employee via the scheduling software.  Any subsequent vacancies created by the initial posting will also be posted and filled in the same manner as the initial vacancy.

Any resulting subsequent vacancies that are not filled via shift bid will be filled at the discretion of management.

Once an employee is awarded a shift, they may not bid again for a shift vacancy for a six month period. Company seniority for regular vacancies shall be determined as follows:

Full-Time Employees, Part-Time Employees, and then Per-Diem Employees.

In the event that two or more employees have the same seniority date (length with the company), preference will be given to time in grade / position.  For example, two employees were both hired on the same day.  One was hired as an EMT, and the other as a Paramedic.   A year later, the EMT upgrades to Paramedic.  Now both employees have bid for a Paramedic opening.  Since they both have same seniority date, the team member that has been functioning as a Paramedic longer would receive preference.  When all things are equal, seniority will be determined by management.

Temporary Vacancies

Positions that are anticipated to be of six (6) months in duration or less are considered temporary vacancies and are not subject to posting and bidding procedures. Temporary vacancies may be the result of short-term leaves or operational needs such as special events. (see “Overtime Distribution”)

Responsibility and Rights