Full-Time Firefighters That Work Part-Time with Other Departments

I recently came across a problem within a particular department and would like you guys' input on the situation and any advice on the matter.

Lets say firefighter A is a full time firefighter at XYZ Department. Firefighter A wants to work at another department part time to gain more experience and knowledge as well as supplement income. Firefighter A has had part time jobs before as do most other firefighters in his department do. The chief of the department tells firefighter A that he can't work part time for another department because that is "his" policy. The chiefs policy states that any part time job has to be approved by the fire chief and if approval is granted then the firefighter cannot work more than 20 miles away or 15 mins away response time. In firefighter A's department there is another firefighter, who we will call firefighter B. Firefighter B has a part job that is 45 miles away. And lets say there is another firefighter (Firefighter C). Firefighter C recently started a part time job without the approval of the fire chief. The fire chief has yet to say anything to Firefighter B or Firefighter C on their part time jobs (they aren't with another fire department), but the chief has told firefighter A that he cannot work at another department.

There are laws stating that if you are required to be on call on your personal time then you are to be paid. But the paid time for being on call the person on call must be confined to certain regulations and not be able to go a certain number of milea away etc.

I know there are firefighter that carry pagers and are paged to go to fires all the time and are not paid for on call time, but then again they are not required to respond. Taking that into consideration, then how can the fire chief tell Firefigher A what he can and cannot do on his personal time.

Give me your point of view and any legal advice you have for Firefigher A. What would you do if you were in Firefigher A's position.

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Permalink Reply by Brandon Lane on June 10, 2010 at 8:01pm

The par time firefighter job that firefighter A is going to work is actually paying him the same amount of money. And why would he need insurance if the agency that he works for full time is providing that already. Not sure what your getting at here. Firefighters where I am from work part time as a firefighter all the time. Just this certain departments chief has a hard time on the issue.

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Permalink Reply by John Crabbe on June 10, 2010 at 8:01pm

you try so hard to do your best And Be apart of your department. Not only to help public But it seem You have gone The extra mile above Your Required Duty As a fireman you put your engery and skill to work for you in order to advance and grow not to mention the opertunity to be apart Of a second District Where The Possible Chance You will Help People

Well, let's flip this around then. If dept "A" has gone through the trouble and expense of training you and so forth, then shouldn't the dept have some bit of say about using those skills and knowledge elsewhere, while still an employee of the dept? If a FF gets hurt with another dept, then the primary dept and community incurs the extra costs for OT, medical expense, etc while the FF recovers. Sure one can get hurt in any type of job, but there are several jobs out there that do have a "moonlighting clause" especially when it involves a similar job. For example when I worked as a tow truck driver, there was a moonlight clause saying if I worked for a competitor or as a tow truck driver elsewhere, I was subject to termination. Seems a FD can have the same type of say.

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Permalink Reply by FETC on June 10, 2010 at 9:17pm

Bob dependant upon the terms or conditions of employment for which you were hired, that would depend if the "Chief's Policy" holds up in court. Many fire department's around my way are now making new hires sign letter of agreement for which, employee rules and regulations, the Department SOG's and/or your probationary conditions may be listed as official terms of employment.

Now if that department has a Chief must approve any secondary employment policy, then your stance that legally they can't tell you what to do on your off time would be untrue.