New Albany Fire/Rescue post focuses on retaining first responders

A post from New Albany Fire/Rescue says filling orientation classes does not guarantee that staffing schedules will remain full, arguing that retention depends on workplace conditions after new first responders are hired.

The post says new first responders typically arrive with passion, a willingness to study and a desire to serve and earn the trust of their crews. It then describes mandatory overtime becoming routine, broken equipment being treated as normal and employees being held to different standards.

It also says experienced providers are expected to carry the workload, train replacements and remain grateful despite exhaustion. When employees leave, the post says their resilience may be questioned while the conditions that contributed to their departures remain unchanged.

The post characterizes repeated departures for the same reasons as information that leaders should consider rather than as only individual problems. It identifies fair compensation, dependable equipment, manageable schedules, consistent accountability and responsive leadership as elements of retention.

It concludes that hiring someone to fill an opening does not repair a workplace culture that continues to create vacancies, and says loyalty is earned by demonstrating that employees can stay without sacrificing everything else they value.

Source: New Albany Fire/Rescue.