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Hiring, Training Costs, and Retention Memphis Fire Department

• Examine MFD Paramedic and EMT

– Hiring

– Training Costs

– Retention

• Provide Recommendations for Retaining Employees

EMPLOYEES HIRED IN 2004

Hiring Goals Changed in 2005

• A new mission was adopted to increase the number of paramedics on the Memphis Fire Department

• Everyone hired after 2005 was required to become a firefighter paramedic as a condition of employment

• Model to train employee to Firefighter EMT after 2005 was the same as the 2004 model

• Employee reports to company at receiving Firefighter EMT training

Conditions to Achieve Goal

• State of Tennessee changed the requirements to become EMT

• Length of time to teach new EMT curriculum increased from 13 weeks to six months

• New model for training employee to become a firefighter EMT = 9 months

• With vacations and holidays, expected time to teach new firefighter EMT model = 10 months

Hours of Training

Cost of Training per Hour

Total Training Costs Per Student

Based on Instructor Costs

Salary with Benefits/Hour

Total Costs Based on

Student Salary

Total

Basic Firemanship (No Prior Training) 520 $6.11 $3,177.20 $21.03 $10,935.60 $14,112.80

EMT Advanced (No Prior Training) 520 $6.11 $3,177.20 $21.03 $10,935.60 $14,112.80

TOTAL 1040 $6354.40 $21871.20 $28,225.60

$28,225.60

Per Student

$40,167.20 Per Student

Hours of Training

Cost of Training per Hour

Total Training Costs Per Student

Based on Instructor Costs

Salary with Benefits/Hour

Total Costs Based on

Student Salary

Total

Basic Firemanship (No Prior Training) 520 $6.11 $3,177.20 $21.03 $10,935.60 $14,112.80

EMT Advanced (No Prior Training) 960 $6.11 $5,865.60 $21.03 $20,188.80 $26,054.40

TOTAL 1480 $9,042.80 $31,124.40 $40,167.20

Hours of Training

Cost of Training per Hour

Total Training Costs Per Student

Based on Instructor Costs

Salary with Benefits/Hour

Total Costs Based on

Student Salary

Total

Basic Firemanship (No Prior Training) 520 $6.11 $3,177.20 $21.03 $10,935.60 $14,112.80

EMT Advanced (No Prior Training) 960 $6.11 $5,865.60 $21.03 $20,188.80 $26,054.40

Paramedic (No Prior Training) 1309 $8.56 $11,205.04 $0.00 $0.00 $11,205.04

TOTAL 2789 $20,247.84 $31,124.40 $51,372.24

$51,372.24 Per Student

Civilians Hired in 2004 to Become Firefighter EMT and Resigned or Terminated

106

53

16

10

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

85 86

Total Hired

ResignedA Total of 2 Classes

(159 Employees) Hired Over a One Year Period

• Class 85 a total of 16 resigned

(85% Retention Rate)

• Class 86 a total of 10 resigned

(81% Retention Rate)

Class Number

401

225

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

Hired Retained

Civilians and Paramedics Hired from 2006-2013 to Become Firefighter Paramedics and Resigned

or Terminated

Class Number

15%

19%

45%

58%

67%

56%

44%

56%

52%

41%

18%

48%

13%

0% 0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98

Class Number

45%

58%

67%

31%

44%

31% 32%

17%

14%

30%

0% 0% 0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98

Money may attract

people to the front

door but something

else is needed to

make the person a

committed

employee

• Resignation in lieu of Termination or Termination

– Could not pass EMT testing – Could not pass Paramedic testing – Could not pass State Haz-Mat testing – Behavior

• Resignation – Did not like working for fire department “working conditions”

• High run Volume • This job was not for them

– Had no intention of staying “sought employment to obtain state fire certification or medical licensure”

– Benefits

• Worker Shortage

• Skill Shortage

• Budget Concerns

• Talent Management

• Competition

• Diversity

• Loyalty

• Location • The Job • Job Security • Job Challenge • Compensation • Benefits • Career Development • Training and Development • Empowerment

• Require EMT or Paramedic certifications according to need

• Hire people who want to become Firefighter Paramedics or Firefighter EMT’s for the City of Memphis

• If the concept of a fire based EMS service is the goal, the following things must be understood – It is necessary for everyone to be a Firefighter because everyone is

expected to preform fire fighting tasks. State requires a minimum mandate of Firefighter II Certification. We make this mandatory. Other certifications are possible and encouraged, but not required.

– Everyone should have some medical background. Just like a hospital, people should have different levels of expertise to meet the demands of the position. Everyone is not expected to be a doctor.

– In a fire based EMS service it is not necessary for everyone to be a paramedic. There are positions where EMT’s can be better utilized.

• Know the medical background needed for each position to accomplish the goal of giving the best medical attention to the public at an affordable cost.

• Fill the position accordingly.

• Employee selection is paramount in all long-term retention Strategies – Be aggrieve in local recruitment starting with our youth. Start recruiting in 9th

and 10th grades in SCS. – Began building the network (Streets Ministries, Explorers, Ambassadors, Man

of the House Mentoring, ect.) • Provide the necessary training

– Offer EMT and Paramedic Scholarships for top preforming high school graduates. They cannot become firefighters until they reach the age of 21.

– Explore the State Promise Program for Southwest Community College. • Help them succeed

– Offer part time jobs to high school graduates that have displayed high scholastic achievement and want to work for MFD.

– Provide avenue to have both fire and EMT/paramedic certifications by the time they are 21 years of age.

– Have a job waiting when all certifications are met and they reach 21 years of age.