GAINESVILLE, FL (352today.com) – Gainesville City Commissioners approved a new work schedule for the city’s firefighters in an effort to improve work-life balance and help future recruitment efforts.
At its Nov. 16 meeting, commissioners approved a 24/72 staffing model that will allow Gainesville Fire Rescue (GFR) firefighters and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) to work a 24-hour shift followed by three consecutive days off.
Currently, GFR first responders work a 24/48 schedule.
The city says it’s one of just a few municipalities in the state, and the first in north Florida, to make the switch to the 24/72 model.
The changes were negotiated as part of the city’s 3-year contracts with GFR public safety employees. They hope to implement the new shift schedule in mid-2024.
In a release, GFR Fire Chief Joseph Dixon said the department has already begun receiving calls about the upcoming change.
“Right now, a firefighter/EMT who starts work at 8 a.m., expecting to end their shift 24 hours later, might get off work 48 hours later instead. They’ll get overtime but they lose the downtime they really need to rest and the quality time they should have with their families,” said Nick Gonzalez, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 2157, who negotiated the changes during bargaining talks between the city and the local union.
“The 24/72 schedule has generated a lot of excitement in the field and will help GFR become more competitive in recruitment and retention efforts. It really is a great investment in the health and well-being of our first responders and in the city we serve,” Gonzalez said.