Joining a Secondary Squad?

[spnjsquad]

Hello, I am currenty on one BLS squad and I was wondering if it would be an okay idea for me to join a second one. I have already researched the squad and I really do like it, and I do have the time to ride both duty crews. So the bottom line is; is it pointless for me to join a second squad or should I go for it? Thanks.

 

[NomadicMedic]

It seems like every BLS provider in Delaware works at three or four different ones. Why not?

 

[AtlasFlyer]

Many of our people work for another organization as a backup or part-time gig.

 

[Akulahawk]

I figure that as long as both squads are OK with it and you are able blend both schedules well, go for it! I did something similar for several years before things at one of the jobs got too unstable and they needed more flexibility than I could give.

 

[ZombieEMT]

Make sure you check with both agencies first, as some might have conflict of interest rules, especially if they run IFT. However, many EMT/Medic are part of multiple squads. Fact is, EMS does not pay all that well.

 

[DrParasite]

if you have the time, and the desire, go for it.

I have been on multiple public safety agencies since i was 16, in one capacity or another. it's good networking, and it can help you gain experience, as well as a different way to do things.

 

[Christopher]

Hello, I am currenty on one BLS squad and I was wondering if it would be an okay idea for me to join a second one. I have already researched the squad and I really do like it, and I do have the time to ride both duty crews. So the bottom line is; is it pointless for me to join a second squad or should I go for it? Thanks.

Unless what you do is something crazy specialized that requires an obscure PhD, nobody can reasonably ask that you not work somewhere else if you want to.

Work wherever you'd like and ignore anybody who tells you otherwise.

 

[TransportJockey]

Unless what you do is something crazy specialized that requires an obscure PhD, nobody can reasonably ask that you not work somewhere else if you want to.

Work wherever you'd like and ignore anybody who tells you otherwise.

Not true. Some places of employment or even volunteer agencies can require you to sign a clause saying they can dismiss yoy for working or volunteering at a competing agency

 

[Christopher]

Not true. Some places of employment or even volunteer agencies can require you to sign a clause saying they can dismiss yoy for working or volunteering at a competing agency

Those are hard to enforce even in States that allow them. As a software engineer I know all too well the ridiculous BS employers try and force down on us regarding our "work" at other places.

 

[TransportJockey]

Those are hard to enforce even in States that allow them. As a software engineer I know all too well the ridiculous BS employers try and force down on us regarding our "work" at other places.

Not in an at will state. Ive seen it.done a couple times

 

[Christopher]

Not in an at will state. Ive seen it.done a couple times

EVEN in an At-Will State. I'm in one and the non-compete can be very difficult to enforce (I wouldn't sign the one given to me). It would be especially hard to enforce one if you're an ambulance driver, EMT, or paramedic. What trade secrets am I going to walk away with? Perhaps your service folds linens in an amazing manner...

The folks terminated for their non-compete should have sued, they'd have likely regained employment.

 

[DrParasite]

EVEN in an At-Will State. I'm in one and the non-compete can be very difficult to enforce (I wouldn't sign the one given to me). It would be especially hard to enforce one if you're an ambulance driver, EMT, or paramedic. What trade secrets am I going to walk away with? Perhaps your service folds linens in an amazing manner...

The folks terminated for their non-compete should have sued, they'd have likely regained employment.

no they wouldn't; if that were the case, they would have already, and there would be case law supporting it.

you don't have to sign the non-compete clause; as such, they don't have to offer you the job.

it's not about trade secrets, but rather they don't want you working for a competing agency (in some cases, any agency that boarders one of their primary contracts or potential contracts). plus, if your in an at will state, you can be fired for breaking their rules. and if you don't like their rules (against working for a competitor), that's ok, feel free to see employment elsewhere.

In NJ, MONOC is the biggest company that does this. it isn't always enforced (in fact, most of the time it isn't), but I do know at least one person who was terminted for it (or rather, that was the reason they gave him, there were probably others but they weren't against policy).

Truth be told, most halfway decent agencies aren't scared of you working elsewhere, as long as you fulfil your oblications to them. Sadly there are quite a few not so decent agencies that have gotten really big, and thats where people often end up starting out in EMS.

 

[Christopher]

no they wouldn't; if that were the case, they would have already, and there would be case law supporting it.

you don't have to sign the non-compete clause; as such, they don't have to offer you the job.

it's not about trade secrets, but rather they don't want you working for a competing agency (in some cases, any agency that boarders one of their primary contracts or potential contracts). plus, if your in an at will state, you can be fired for breaking their rules. and if you don't like their rules (against working for a competitor), that's ok, feel free to see employment elsewhere.

In NJ, MONOC is the biggest company that does this. it isn't always enforced (in fact, most of the time it isn't), but I do know at least one person who was terminted for it (or rather, that was the reason they gave him, there were probably others but they weren't against policy).

Truth be told, most halfway decent agencies aren't scared of you working elsewhere, as long as you fulfil your oblications to them. Sadly there are quite a few not so decent agencies that have gotten really big, and thats where people often end up starting out in EMS.

Most people in at-will States don't realize they still have rights (we'll ignore the misnomer "right to work"). Just because somebody did not contest their termination doesn't mean it was valid.

Giving a reason for termination in an at-will State is unnecessary and may cause problems for the employer. Breach of a non-compete could be a fine reason to terminate someone with cause, provided of course your non-compete is enforceable. The reason for the non-compete must be convincing and the employee must receive some special consideration in most States. Unless you're in one of the few states where "continued employment" constitutes agreement to those terms (Florida I believe), you'd likely need to be promoted, given a bonus, and/or placed into a position where you're given access to information not normally given to other employees.

Simply working for another company that does the same thing as yours may not be convincing enough, especially if you're not high enough up on the food chain.

Perhaps even better news is many non-competes are invalid if they're potentially harmful for the public, which being denied work as a volunteer or part time employee with another public safety agency could be construed as.

Honestly, this boils down to the State the OP is in, and my advice still stands: work wherever you want, whenever you want.

 

[Christopher]

I should add though that they can prohibit moonlighting in almost every State. Many departments, even mine, prohibit working prior to your shift.

 

[EpiEMS]

I should add though that they can prohibit moonlighting in almost every State. Many departments, even mine, prohibit working prior to your shift.

That could certainly have a patient safety impact, though. That being said, so does not sleeping enough...

 

[Handsome Robb]

I've been told that we're not allowed to work Burning Man since we lost the contract. I've never seen anyone be fired for it, they just won't grant the time off to accommodate it.