Professionalism: It’s Not About Getting Paid
(Room 3A & B)
23 Feb 18
10:00 AM
-
12:00 PM
Tracks:
Leadership and Managment, Volunteer Fire Service
A fire officer posts an inappropriate photo to Facebook. A career firefighter is arrested at an emergency scene for fighting with a volunteer. A fire chief makes a joke video that people find offensive rather than funny. A firefighter quits due to hazing and files a lawsuit for sexual harassment. These are just a few of the personnel issues confronting fire departments today. Every fire service leader is challenged with how to draw the line between enforcing appropriate behavior and giving firefighters latitude to run their own crews and shifts. When more and more regulations are developed, there is inevitable pushback that the fire service has gone soft, and that political correctness will destroy crew integrity as well as effective team response. This presentation will take a fresh look at how to strike the balance between creating a safe, inclusive, and professional workplace while still respecting fire department traditions. The essence of the presentation will be an examination of the role of trust in creating effective crew and community relationships. Discussion topics will include hazing and pranks, social media, inter-departmental relationships, and roles and responsibilities within the service community. The format will be highly interactive and based on actual fire service case studies.