HomeMy WebLinkAboutSOG 104.07 Field Operations Section Overtime Administration~ 1 ~
Beaumont Fire Department
Standard Operating Guideline
104.07 – Field Operations Section Overtime Administration
Effective: 10/09/2025 Chief Earl White Replaces Policy Dated: 05/05/2017
1. Application of Policy & Eligibility for Field Operations Overtime
1.1. This policy is applicable to the maintenance of routine daily staffing targets ONLY, and
does not cover call back of members for other purposes.
1.2. A member will be deemed ineligible for Field Operations overtime if they:
1.2.1. Were listed as having at least 60 days of training deficiency on the most recent
deficiency list. Members will remain ineligible until a following month’s list
shows them to be less than 60 days deficient. Exceptions may be requested of, and
approved by, the Fire Chief.
1.2.2. Have someone working for them, and it’s their regularly scheduled day to work.
1.2.3. Are obviously sick when called (i.e., they exhibit symptoms that could prevent
them from being able to fulfill their essential job functions or that may be spread to
other department personnel).
1.2.4. Are scheduled to attend to Union Business during the shift that requires approval
from the Fire Chief in accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
1.2.5. Used sick leave for any portion of their last regularly scheduled shift that occurred
after 8pm. Sick leave includes the following pay codes:
1.2.5.1. EF - Emergency Family Leave
1.2.5.2. EL – Emergency Leave
1.2.5.3. FJ – FMLA, Off Duty Injury
1.2.5.4. RI – On Duty Injury
1.2.5.5. RJ – Off Duty Injury
1.2.5.6. SF – FMLA, Sick Leave
1.2.5.7. SK – Sick Leave
1.2.5.8. VF – FMLA, Vacation
1.2.5.9. WC – Worker’s Comp Without Pay
1.2.5.10. WF – Worker’s Comp On-Duty Injury
1.2.6. To regain eligibility for overtime after any use of sick leave:
1.2.6.1. a member must return to work by 8pm on the shift they used sick leave, or
1.2.6.2. a member must return to work a following shift, or
1.2.6.3. members who have their Kelly day pass, have a vacation day pass, have a
personal leave day pass, or have someone work their shift on trade time
MAY regain eligibility ONLY when they properly submit their sick
paperwork AND email the Operations Chief Group informing them of
their desire to be eligible for overtime. Members who do not complete
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those two steps will be assumed to still be sick and ineligible for overtime.
The on-duty Deputy Chief will update the status of the member on the
Overtime list as soon as they receive proper notification. Using any other
type of leave will not allow a member to regain eligibility.
1.2.7. Have not successfully completed the 2nd quarter of their probationary period.
1.2.8. Would work more than 48 hours in a row by accepting the overtime assignment.
Members who are ineligible because of the 48-hour limit must be off duty a
minimum of 12 hours before becoming eligible to work overtime.
1.2.9. Are serving a suspension. Members serving a suspension must work their next
regularly scheduled shift before they will become eligible to work overtime.
1.2.10. Were coded WP (Without Pay) for any portion of their last regularly scheduled
shift. Members coded Without Pay must work their next regularly scheduled shift
before they will become eligible to work overtime.
1.3. The member is responsible for notifying the Deputy Chief of any of the circumstances
listed above if inadvertently called.
1.4. If a member accepts overtime when ineligible, the following will occur:
1.4.1. Within one hour of reporting for duty, if the member realizes that they are actually
ineligible, and notifies the Deputy Chief, then the Deputy Chief will provide the
member the following options:
1.4.1.1. Leave without receiving pay plus receiving a strike, OR
1.4.1.2. Receiving pay for the two-hour minimum plus being struck from the
overtime list.
1.4.2. If discovered at any other time during the shift, the member will be sent home by
the Deputy Chief and struck from the Overtime list.
2. General Considerations
2.1. Computation of overtime hours will begin upon arrival at the assigned duty station
2.1.1. The member is responsible for reporting their actual arrival time to the Deputy
Chief
2.1.2. Exception: Those held over from the off-going shift will have their time start at
0800 hours.
2.2. Eligible members called back from off-duty must provide the Deputy Chief with an
estimated time of arrival.
2.2.1. If the ETA would exceed 90 minutes, then the member will receive a strike and not
be allowed to work the overtime assignment.
2.2.2. If a member who accepts an overtime assignment does not make it to the assigned
station within 90 minutes, then they will receive a strike and not be allowed to
work the overtime assignment.
2.3. Eligible members called in from off-duty who have arrived at their assignment, are
guaranteed a minimum of 2 hours of overtime, even if they are no longer needed for
minimum staffing. The member must remain at their assignment for the full two hours.
Members who have not arrived at their assignment are not eligible for this guarantee.
2.4. In instances where there are multiple personnel called for overtime on a particular shift,
then the last person called is the first to be released.
2.4.1. Exception: If there is no longer an available opening for a particular rank, then the
last person called of that rank will be the first to be released.
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3. Field Operations Overtime List
3.1. Operations Deputy Chiefs will use alphabetical lists to fill overtime positions, and record
hours worked and strikes.
3.2. Members who do not wish to ever work overtime may opt out of being called by sending
an email to the on-duty Deputy Chief. The Deputy will completely remove the member’s
name from all of the overtime lists. If, at a later date, a member wishes to opt back in to
the overtime list, then they will email the on-duty Deputy Chief. The Deputy will then
add the member’s name to the fourth active list only.
3.3. Cumulative hours worked and strikes will be used to determine when a member is to be
struck from the overtime list.
3.3.1. Once a member reaches 22 cumulative hours of overtime, they will then be struck
from the list. After finishing their current overtime assignment.
3.3.2. If a member is unable to complete an overtime shift for any reason (i.e., sick,
family emergency, etc.) then the number of hours that the member was
scheduled/offered to work that day will be recorded and count towards the
cumulative 22 hours.
3.3.3. If there are no available openings at or one grade above their rank, then members
may voluntarily work one grade below their own. Members will not receive strikes
if they choose not to work at a lower rank, or are skipped over because there were
no openings they were eligible for. Captains and Drivers who volunteer to work on
a Med unit may fill an opening below their rank.
3.3.4. A member will be struck from the list after reaching 3 strikes. Strikes will be given
for the following:
3.3.4.1. Refusal to work
3.3.4.2. No answer when called
3.3.4.3. Training deficiency of at least 60 days.
3.3.4.4. Obviously sick when called
3.3.4.5. Can’t report to work within the 90-minute time limit
3.3.4.6. Are in the first two quarters of probationary period
3.3.4.7. Used any type of sick leave/off duty injury leave for any portion of their
scheduled shift that occurred after 8pm. (Does not include On-Duty Injury,
Light Duty, or Comp Time)
3.3.4.7.1. Only one strike will be given for each stint of sick leave.
3.3.4.8. Are serving a suspension
3.3.4.9. Were coded Without Pay (WP) at any point during their last regularly
scheduled shift.
3.3.4.10. Only one strike may be given per shift for the reasons listed in section
3.3.4.
3.3.5. For the purpose of keeping the overtime process simplified and manageable, only 4
overtime lists will be active at any given time.
3.3.5.1. While filling overtime positions: If a member is still eligible on the first
active list, and their name is reached and/or passed on the fourth active list,
then their eligibility will be completely struck from the first active list.
These types of strikes will be documented as rotated (RT), with the date of
the rotation also noted. Exception: Members on duty, working a trade time,
on Department business, or skipped because there were no openings for
their rank, will not be rotated.
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3.3.5.2. Deferrals, temporary assignments, and long-term illness do not exempt
members from being rotated.
3.3.6. Members may submit deferrals to avoid receiving strikes. The purpose of deferrals
is to reduce the workload of the Deputy Chiefs when calling in overtime, by
allowing them to skip over members on leave who do not wish to be called.
3.3.6.1. Deferrals must be submitted to the on-duty Deputy Chief by 9pm of the
day before the deferral is to begin.
3.3.6.2. Members may defer from being called for overtime if they:
3.3.6.2.1. Are on vacation.
3.3.6.2.2. Are on Kelly day/week.
3.3.6.2.3. Are already scheduled for an activity considered department
business.
3.3.6.2.4. Are already scheduled for other overtime hours that do not fall
under the scope of this policy.
3.3.6.2.5. Are fulfilling military obligations.
3.3.6.2.6. Are approved for deferral for any other reason by the Fire Chief.
3.3.6.3. Members may not submit a deferral if they have not met the overtime
eligibility requirements after using sick leave.
3.3.6.4. Members will be automatically deferred and thus ineligible for overtime if
they:
3.3.6.4.1. Are on temporary assignment
3.3.6.4.2. Are on Light Duty or Workman’s Comp
3.3.6.4.3. Are attending Department-Sponsored training activities
3.3.6.4.4. Are signed up or scheduled for any Department sponsored exam,
such as a promotional exam or state certification exam.
3.3.6.4.5. Are already scheduled for any department activity that would
make them unable to work in the capacity of the overtime
position available to them.
3.4. The Deputy Chief will attempt to contact eligible members using the contact information
on the overtime lists.
3.4.1. Contact numbers for overtime purposes will be limited to one cell phone number
and one home phone number.
3.4.2. It is the member’s responsibility to ensure their contact information is both
accurate and current. The Department is not responsible for a member missing out
on overtime opportunities due to incorrect or outdated information.
3.4.3. A member shall email the Operations Chiefs Group to have information updated on
the overtime lists. The on-duty Deputy is responsible for updating the information.
3.4.4. The Deputy Chief will attempt to call both contact numbers and leave voicemail
messages on both.
3.4.5. The Deputy Chief, or his designee(s), will make calls from the landlines in the
Deputy’s office or C54’s assigned cell phone, if feasible.
3.4.6. The Deputy Chief will begin filling overtime spots the day before to fill any known
vacant positions. This will be done by text or call.
3.5. The Deputy Chiefs will retain overtime records for at least 4 months, and will always
retain the last completed list.
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4. Overtime Staffing
4.1. Members working overtime will be assigned to work on a fire apparatus.
4.2. Grade I, II, and III members working overtime may volunteer to work on an ambulance.
4.2.1. Members who volunteer must indicate their desire to work on an ambulance at the
time they accept overtime.
4.3. The Deputy Chief will prioritize placing a member on overtime at their normally
assigned station. This applies only if there is already an open position available at that
station. This priority will supersede upgrade priorities. The Deputy Chief may deviate
from this consideration, if doing so would be more efficient for the operation of the shift.
4.4. In the event that the entire overtime list has been exhausted and there are still positions to
fill, then the Deputy will contact members in the following order:
4.4.1. Non-Field Operations personnel using a supplemental list. All Non-Field
Operations personnel must meet the eligibility requirements in this policy. Non-
Field Operations personnel must turn down Field Operations overtime if they have
already accepted or are already scheduled for overtime in their division. They also
will not be eligible for the overtime if they are already scheduled to work during
any portion of the time period that is being offered. This list will:
4.4.1.1. Include all Non-Field Operations personnel who opt in to the list
4.4.1.2. Be alphabetical
4.4.1.3. Not include the ability to defer
4.4.1.4. Strike members off as their name is reached. There is no exception to this
strike.
4.4.2. Any probationary firefighters assigned to Field Operations who are in their first
two quarters. These members will be called in eligibility order using the Field
Operations Overtime list. Any hours they work will be documented on the list.
4.4.3. Any Field Operations members who were originally skipped over because they
would have worked more than 48 hours. Members volunteering to work over 48
hours will not have those additional hours documented on the overtime list.
4.4.4. The Deputy Chief will send a mass text through ESO to all Field Operations
personnel advising that positions are still unfilled, and to call the Deputy Chief’s
office if they wish to work. Texted members who were eligible and turned down
overtime who then change their minds and agree to work, will have their strike
removed and be treated as if they had accepted overtime when originally contacted.
Their hours will be documented on the list they were eligible on. (*This only
applies in the morning near shift change. If a member turns down overtime in the
morning, but then accepts overtime after a mass text occurring later in the shift,
then they will retain the strike they earned in the morning and the hours worked
will be documented on the list they are currently eligible on.)
4.5. If there are still unfilled openings, after the steps listed above have been exhausted, then
the following will be done depending on the number of openings:
4.5.1. T74 will be placed out of service
4.5.2. Truck 1 and Med 1 will be merged and staffed by one crew of either 2 or 3
members.
4.5.3. The Deputy Chief will designate members for mandatory overtime. Because this
will occur after members have already been relieved, mandatory overtime will be
assigned to any members who have not yet been relieved, regardless of seniority.
Members designated for mandatory overtime work will not have those hours
documented on the Overtime Spreadsheet.
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