Hiring, Training Costs, and Retention Memphis Fire Department
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.