i do 8 hours shifts... the only time that that changes... if we have a hurrricane... then we are on lock down for 72 hrs.... then they put us on 12 hr shifts for 3x weeks...

Brianna - I am so very sorry I didn't see this until now. Are you gone from the job already or did they find a last minute fix for you? How are you doing right now? I'm sorry I went AWOL, apparently along with everyone else. Please update when you can!!! Dina

Hi Jill - We've been on 10 hour shifts predominantly for the last 10+ years. Our needs vary by shift, but we've been doing 4-10's from the time we had 10 or 12 dispatchers up to now when we have 21-22. Our shifts are as follows - Day shift: 6a-4p, 7a-5p, 8a-6p, 10a-8p Night shift: 4p-2a, 5p-3a, 6p-4a, 8p-6a We all work 4-10's and have 3 days off in a row. We have set days on and off and bid by seniority every 6 months, however we may go back to every 4 months again soon. In order to effectively cover our shifts, there are a few shifts that have 2 hr different start times. They try to make it only once in the week and make the last shift of that person's week one that starts 2 hours early so they have a longer weekend rather than shortened one. That is what they aim for but don't always accomplish. Generally we run a minimum of 5 dispatchers on one shift, but we have some days with 6 dispatchers and on the weekends 7. These taper off as the morning draws on, losing 2 usually at 2am, one at 3am and one at 4am, leaving 2 dispatchers from 4a-6a, then dayshift has 2 dispatchers from 6a-7a. Our shifts generally mimick that of the troopers so when they are scheduled on & off, we are scheduled to come on and off about the same times. We have also played with mixed shifts where most are 4-10's and a couple are 5-8's. No one seemed to like those shifts at all. With 4-10's you could work a day of your weekend almost every week and still feel like you got a weekend off. Hope that helps, let me know if you have further questions. Dina

hey yall... im new to the board.... im currently working days 3p-11p and finding it next to impossible to do anything that i should.... most nights the pull me for overtime since we are so short staffed and most nights every with all the OT they pull we still work down on the 911 intake positions.... unfortuanlly with all this working i know im not eating right or exersing like i should be... any suggestions?.. oh im about 18 months out and go to paramedic school full time... lexa

Hey !!! The vacation was great....I've been back to work since June 1st. UGH!!!!!! It's been busy busy busy!! Have you put in your request in writing? take care, Paula