Personal Telecommunication Requirements

Section 1 - ADMINISTRATIVE

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this policy is to define operational guidelines and requirements for employees to maintain a communication medium with Fire Administration.

PROCEDURE:

The Maitland Fire Rescue Department deems it necessary to have a mechanism to contact employees to relay general information, solicit a response to a need, offer overtime, and facilitate employee recalls during disaster related situations. The Department recognizes that many employees have access to personal telecommunications equipment that is capable of receiving text and/or email messages. The Fire Chief shall set the guidelines and requirements related to acceptable devices used to receive pages or text messages. .

• Department employees have a responsibility to readily receive, interpret, and properly address authorized electronic transmissions sent by representatives of the department.
• It is the responsibility of each employee to maintain an approved mechanism for electronic communications with the Department during their off-duty time.
• The Department assumes no responsibility for messaging charges or any other fees associated with the maintenance of employee’s personal telecommunications devices when authorized to be used.
• All employees are required to appropriately respond to electronic transmissions initiated by any person within the department having supervisory authority within thirty (30) minutes unless the message sent indicates otherwise.
• Messages relating to emergency situations or call related responses are to be answered immediately.
• Discretion is to be used when contacting off duty shift members. Determine whether the information or request is needed without delay or if it can be addressed upon the employees return to duty.
• All transmissions sent related to department business are to contain the sending person’s name included in the message. The use of a supervisor’s name by someone other than the specific supervisor is prohibited.
• All employees utilizing a personnel cell phone shall sign the City's Cell Phone Usage Agreement.

NOTIFICATION FOR OVERTIME OFFERINGS

• Offerings of overtime will be done either by electronic transmission or face-to-face communications. A supervisor may use other forms of contact once all attempts at filling an overtime position have failed for all eligible employees.
• “Call (Battalion Chief, Station 45, 47 or Fire Admin) for OT”.
• When receiving a “Call for OT” message, the recipients have 15 minutes to call the initiating party and accept or decline the overtime offering. If the initiating party has sent a message and has not received a phone call within 15 minutes, he/she will move on to the remaining ranks.