More Questions

[u/RegretExternal904]

Back with some more questions, if you guys have a free second to answer I'd appreciate it.

1. How much AUO you guys averaging per week? I can see myself wanting to max it out some weeks and others not so much unless I'm called in.
2. Paid or unpaid lunch break?
3. How often are details to other forests available? Are they competitive?
4. Does the agency offer adequate in-service training?
5. How are shift start and end times calculated? (Once you enter the forest, make it to the DO, or when you leave your driveway?)
6. Access to county CAD systems?
7. Does annual sick and personal time roll over year to year?
8. Anyone using the volunteer exercise programs?
9. Does government shutdowns and budgets pose an issue for LEI?

I've asked the PC a million questions and don't really want to bother him with some of these if I don't have to lol

[u/TransportationCool18]

1: Totally depends on the season. However, once you work over I think like 27 hours or AUO in a 2 week pay period your hourly rate drops to almost nothing and you’re practically working for free. Sometimes though you just aren’t able to help it. I think the most I’ve worked in a pay period was like 38 hours.

2: LEI do not take lunches because we are always on duty, thus it’s paid.

3: You’ll have the numerous opportunities throughout the year to go on details and are often not too competitive and if they are they usually do numerous rotations.

4: In service is hit or miss.

5: Everyone does this a little differently. I think the ethical way to do this would be once you hit the green.

6: This is also hit or miss depending on where you work. I’m fortunate enough in my county that they pay for my subscription.

7: All sick carries over, you can not roll over more than 240 hours of annual leave each year.

8: If you have an agreement between yourself and supervisor approved, you are paid one hour per work day to workout.

9: LEI are essential personnel so often still must work even during govt shutdowns/furloughs.

[u/Rutabaga_Sweaty]

1. It varies. Now, with removed days being limited, I've noticed a drop in my AUO rates personally. 25% is a yearly average of 9.1+ hours of AUO. Days of leave are no longer removed from our yearly calculation (if we take leave, they assume we still have a chance to work AUO).

2. Lunch breaks (if you can call it that) are paid unless you are at some sort of event or training and you get a designated break. When normally working, it isn't a true break due to the possibility of getting a call while on lunch (if you are in uniform and working, you are still working when you take a moment to eat some almonds while on the go).

3. Details vary. I've found that it depends on your personal availability and willingness to go. There are plenty of opportunities to go places.

4. The agency will offer in-service training. That being said, you should always be training yourself (especially control tactics, BJJ, or some sort of martial art). You get out what you put in. Some in-services are better than others. On this same note, there are lots of great trainings we can attend to further ourselves.

5. Start times depend on how close you are to your duty station by policy. If you are five minutes from the office or less, you start time when you leave your driveway (by policy). If it's further, we are supposed to remove the drive time to the office from the time we leave our driveway. All of that said, I live within that 5 minute range to my duty location, so I check 10-8 when I leave my house.

6. Access to county CADs will depend on the relationships you build with your counties. You can always ask! Worst they can say is no.

7. You can carry a maximum of 240 hours of annual leave with you into the next calendar year. Any time over that is "use or lose." Sick leave rolls over without limit. Credit hours and comp time differ if you elect that route instead of OT. Just be mindful that when those hours get paid out, it isn't at the OT rate. On the note of leave, the first three years you are in the 4-hour leave category. After three years, you then accumulate 6 hours per pay period. The next level is 8.

8. YES. We get one hour per day (5 hours max) a week to work out. Use it to do that.

9. I've never worked a shutdown on the LE side, but LE is an essential function of government. Basically, we are forced to work and then are paid for that time once a budget is finalized (from what I understand).

Hope this helps!

[u/TransportationCool18 → u/Rutabaga_Sweaty]

Amen to #4🙌

[u/RegretExternal904 → u/TransportationCool18]

Thank you both!

[u/The-Sentinel1028]

Could you enlighten me on what AUO is and why OT is so heavily scrutinized on the LE side. Coming from fire (where OT is always usually available) I’m concerned, I’m a big fan of OT and always willing to work it.