What should I do about my job?

jedirye

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I recently got hired at AMR in my town, but they "nicely" informed me that I was hired for two counties over making my commute with no traffic a minimum of an hour.
Strike One
Getting my schedule fixed with them was fun. I set up my school schedule next semester so all my classes were only on Mondays and Wednesdays (and also right by the HQ where I thought I would be working at). Since I'm full time, I figured I could pull 3 x 12 hour shifts and I would be good to go making the commute time + gas money + toll money worth it. The lady has me scheduled five days a week there, with fairly short shift times...
Strike Two
After talking to her about it, she says she has no idea when she could ever move me to the county where I want to work at. She also says that she would try to get my schedule down to four days a week but has no guarantees. Could be a month, could be a year. She also insinuated that if I didn't like it I should just quit. I even said I would work nightshift... no go.
Strike Three

What should I do? There is a Medfleet closeby but I feel AMR is better in all areas. In my state, they do a good amount of ALS type calls as opposed to all interfacility transports like Medfleet. I'd also be taking a drop in pay with Medfleet. I don't know what to do. Wait it out? But for how long? My school semester is starting up in January and I don't think they'll work with me if they're being this difficult as it is... I honestly don't know how much I can keep this up with the gas money, tolls, and putting all those miles on my car (100 mile round trip)... I just honestly don't know what to do... I feel like I've failed because I want to quit AMR already and I just started but I feel like I'm being stepped on and shoved into a corner all the time... :sad:

I previously worked at Walmart and loved it, but left for AMR to get experience as I will be starting medic school in Aug.

-rye............................
 
I feel your pain. I worked for AMR for two years. Here it is strictly nonemergent trans despite what they tell people to get them in the door. I had a good first year, but then things took a dramatic turn for the worse. I went from employee of the year to out the door with a restraining order against me in four months. If they are not willing to work with you now, they are less likely to do so in the future. Cut your losses and save your car, it will serve you in better stead than anything you will learn working for AMR.

AMR stands for: "Ambulances Must Roll" to "Acquire Maximum Revenue" from "Another Medicare Recipient."
 
I previously worked at Walmart and loved it, but left for AMR to get experience as I will be starting medic school in Aug.
-rye...
Should have worked at Target. :P
 
my experience at amr was that i was a number. they didnt care about me, my schedule, my personal issues. i could either take what was offered to me or hit the brick, which is what i did. sometimes thats what has to be done. dont take a job you know will make you miserable. if your paycheck only covers gas, food, tolls and what not, what the point. if you cant work the shift they gave you and go to school, get steppin. i hated amr, and for more than one reason. some people like it very much and have a career there. not me. and apparently not you either.

btw, its been discussed many times but i guess ill say it again. the bread and butter of this business at the basic level is low speed transfers. its what we do. and its not that bad an existence......(until you try to head up a flight of stairs in somerville with a partner who cant lift and tear a rotator cuff(possibly). then life sucks. then you take another vicodin and it doesnt suck so bad.....)
 
I agree with oldschool medic. If they're not willing to work with you as a new hire, they're most definitely not going to work with you later on. Plus it sounds a little odd that you were apparently under the impression that you were working much closer to home, then they informed you that you were working an hour away.

If I were in your shoes, this would be a no-go from the start. Good luck with it!
 
I feel your pain. I worked for AMR for two years. Here it is strictly nonemergent trans despite what they tell people to get them in the door. I had a good first year, but then things took a dramatic turn for the worse. I went from employee of the year to out the door with a restraining order against me in four months. If they are not willing to work with you now, they are less likely to do so in the future. Cut your losses and save your car, it will serve you in better stead than anything you will learn working for AMR.

AMR stands for: "Ambulances Must Roll" to "Acquire Maximum Revenue" from "Another Medicare Recipient."

restraining order?...please tell more.
 
Well my partner called out yesterday to get some stuff done, and he said he was going to stop by the closer counties HQ to get some more information on it, as he wants to work there as well. I guess I'll find out today and that's probably the only reason why I've been hanging in so long as it is. I guess I'll let you guys know.

By the way, I was under the impression that I would be working in the closer county because I was never interviewed by the lady I was suppose to. Apparently she was out that day and I got hired by a regular supervisor who told me that they had openings in Pasco and just to let them know in the end I wanted to work there.

The main problem is I kind of like working here. I feel important and even though I do interfacility, I've already had a couple of MVC's as well whereas in Medfleet that would be an impossibility. Also they give out overtime like candy and I can see myself on winter/spring/summer breaks seriously taking advantage of that. Oh well, I guess I'll think about it over the weekend. They are making me feel a little vindictive though. They've got me with this five day workweek (Christmas included) and I just feel like calling out that day to "get them back". This isn't me...

By the way, their solution to my statement: "I honestly don't think it would be economical for me to pay all this gas and toll money."
Her: "Well you don't have to take the toll roads"

WTH?

-rye
 
This is part of the problem with many "eager" to get into the business. I had to learn the "hard" way that one must asks plenty of questions, obtain a lot of replies in a written form, before accepting any position.

It basically comes down to either you want to work for this company or not. Either you accept what they expect or not, as a basic EMT they are not worried about filling that position, I am sure they have a stack that they can pull from. Sorry, but that is the truth. Yes, it is a shame that were not honest and up-forth with you in the beginning, but now ... welcome to real life. You, have now learned a valuable lesson in making sure that it is clear on what both parties agreed upon.

So, either you will agree to work to gain experience or leave because they did not meet their obligation on what was received upon at hiring.

This is not an easy decision and you need to think of long term consequences either way. If you cannot financially support it and want to leave, then I would give formal notice with being a great employee until the end and leave on good grace (albeit, many do not feel short time employment is "good reputation") the other is to "stick it out" .. and as others describe may be torment or you might gain seniority to change.

Part of the problem with large corporation is once you have a "non-rehire" stamped on your personal file, this will follow one for their professional life. With the multiple bases, this history will apply to them as well, so decide carefully.

Being vindictive early upon in a career to me displays immaturity. If you were recently hired upon my company and then I found out you "called out", I would immediately terminate/fire you. Did they not tell you, you would have to work holidays in EMT school? ...This attitude and action displays to me that your work ethics, and personal attitude needs to be evaluated. Placing them "short" or in a bind, is not being a good employee, team player, no matter what "they" did to you. This as well leaves a 'bad taste' in other medics minds on your demeanor, work ethics and as well this history is much harsher in your professional career. This will follow you your entire life and is much more harsher than any employer has... just ask around.

Either be a good employee and do a good job then resign or maybe choose another profession.

R/r 911
 
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Do you need to have full time status for benefits or could work part time? I work for AMR in Connecticut as a part timer but on any given week I can pull 40+ hours a week. I have the advantage of a very flexible schedule, if I need time off I don't schedule my self that week and if the bills are over due I schedule some crazy long hours. There are enough open shifts to make my own schedule. Up here they put out the schedule for part timers a month at a time.

You would be better off part time than getting fired because you couldn't maintain your full time hours. You could always switch to full time after graduating school.
 
Also consider this - now that you're already working for the company, you might have a MUCH easier time transferring to closer to where you live.
 
Fyrdog- I considered working part time (and any shift, night included) because of the more flexible schedule. Their answer to that? "We're only hiring full time". Fair enough I guess...

Ridryder- You make great points in every paragraph and I agree with them all but the maturity one. Calling out of work on Christmas was a point I acknowledged myself as being vindictive and it simply wasn't me. If they had not only been more understanding, but treated me better in our conversations I would have no qualms about working this holiday or any other in the future as I have with my last job. I also realize that an EMT-B is a dime a dozen and can be just as easily replaced like my old job, a Walmart cashier. I just think you need to understand that there is a fine line in stating what you need and then stepping all over an employee. All the other people I went to orientation with are working four days a week. I just don't know why I'm being singled out...

Today I thought it over and talked with my partner a bit. Unfortunately, I think I am going to throw in the towel on this one. I still think it has been a great experience for me and I've learned a lot on this one. Out of high school two years ago, this is only my second job but I already got a lot out of it. Reality really hit me with this one and the whole "real world" concept came fast which it had to come sooner or later so I'm glad it did now. Oh well. This wouldn't be difficult if I hated it, but once again, even though most of it is interfacility, I actually enjoyed it. Hopefully I will get the same experience with MedFleet.

-rye
 
Good luck in your career. Yes, it is unfortunate that this happened to you. I do wish I could say, it would not again.. but, I still see it in every workplace and every EMS. Sure, there are great EMS, but if you were to talk to any employee you would find a complaint and how unfair it is to someone.

I truly do understand your predicament and as well know as a young person, many managers "walk" all over noobies and younger people do not want to "stick it out" sometimes. I know of many employers that purposefully, make things a little rough in the beginning to see how loyal and dedicated this employee will be.

Again, good luck in the future.

R/r 911
 
Well I went to talk with the head lady who I had talked to previously about my schedule, but she was on vacation. I talked to another one and signed the paper that said I resigned. They didn't ask me to work next week so I didn't offer either. I actually wasn't even gonna finish my last shift, not out of spite but just because I feel like I failed, although I did and I'm glad I did. I got a lot out of that last shift (experience wise: patient assessment, getting better at blood pressures, pulses, etc.) so it is actually hard to go.

Five hours later I got a page to call the lady I had talked to about resigning. I thought maybe she had some last minute details about where to turn in my pager, etc. but I was shocked at what she said. She said she called the head lady on vacation and she had an offer for me: I could work in the closer county, but not as an EMT, as a wheel chair person with the base pay of $8.01 instead of my EMT salary of $9.41. Another catch: I'd still have to work next week Christmas included in Tampa as an EMT still.

I'm wrestling with the idea because I do like this company for the reasons I stated earlier. I want to go onto medic but do not want to be a firefighter, so my options are slighly limited and this seems like a company I could actually grow with. Regardless, if I take the offer, I wouldn't even be working as an EMT and I'd be making almost a dollar less than I did at Walmart.......................... And God only knows how long it would actually take to finally work as an EMT.

I think in the end I'm gonna call the lady and politely pass on the offer but emphasize that I honestly do appreciate them giving me a shot still. I've got to cut my losses eventually...

-rye
 
Jedi, I'm inclined to agree with you about not accepting their new offer. You'll not only get paid less, but you won't even be an EMT anymore. :( Good luck with whatever happens!
 
dont be a wheelchair guy- good lord for 8.01 an hour ? what is this 1992 ? Base pay for EMTs here is 13 an hour and some have sign on bonuses. Man for 8 bucks an hour i wont even roll out of bed.
 
Wow... that sucks.

I'd try a few things as last ditch efforts before leaving:
#1 Talk to the person you interviewed with
#2 Talk to the supervisor of the local base (if not the same person as #1)
#3 Talk to the supervisor of the person who is giving you a hard time.

Explain your situation to these people, and talk about what your understanding was going into the job. I've got a sneaking supsicion that the supervisor of the local operation needs staff still, and that perhaps HE can pull some strings and get you transferred.

If it doesn't work, you really haven't lost anything. If it does work, you still work for the BEST EMS SERVICE IN THE WORLD... AMR! ;)
 
I agree with ffemt and frydog parttime can work better with school and you can always pick up extra shifts. Are the shifts 8 12 or 24 hour? Maybe you could sleep over at a friend's house to save on driving time, money for gas etc. Your foot is in the door, that is half the battle! :)
 
I agree with ffemt and frydog parttime can work better with school and you can always pick up extra shifts. Are the shifts 8 12 or 24 hour? Maybe you could sleep over at a friend's house to save on driving time, money for gas etc. Your foot is in the door, that is half the battle! :)

They wouldn't allow me to go part time for the flexible schedule. "We aren't hiring part time" so that ended that. They also wouldn't schedule me for longer shifts, mainly only 8 hour shifts and I think I had an 11 hour once.

I called them Saturday morning to tell them that I was passing on the "deal". I actually just left a message because she was at lunch I guess, not sure. They haven't called back either, although there was nothing to call back about. I have since applied for MedFleet and it is looking optimistic. They seemed a little surprised I was an EMT I guess as opposed to a First Responder. They have a variety of shifts available and since they are a considerably smaller company, it seems like everyone knows each other there and it's a little more laid back, which was kind of nice. I will see how it goes. I made a note in the "Comments" section of the application that I go to school so that they know this upfront. Wouldn't want to make that mistake again :P I only go Mondays and Wednesdays so it's not completely restricting, but still good to note I suppose. I was a little bummed to find out that at this company, you can't drive the ambulances unless you're 21 as opposed to AMR and the uniforms aren't nearly as sweet, but I suppose I'll survive ;)

Wish me luck guys, and thanks for all the advice!

-rye
 
Sounds like you made the right descion. Better to say up front that the schedule wouldn't work out. Those little Mom and Pops can be good places to work.
 
Well, it's going on a week of unemployment and no call backs that I got a little depressed and thought about throwing in the towel on this one. My boyfriend works at Wal-mart's Distribution Center making $14 an hour so I figured I would join him.......




But as the last bit of hope slipped away from sight, MedFleet called and said they had an opening available and that orientation is on Tuesday! I was so overjoyed but came to my senses and didn't want another "AMR mishap" so I inquired about which shifts were available. Right away without me even mentioning it (although I did note it on my application) "Oh we understand you go to school and we'll work around it." Music to my ears, fellas. They honestly just sound genuinely nice and I think this was a good step for me. Keep in mind the payscale though:
AMR: $9.41
MedFleet: $9.00
old Walmart job: $8.85


So, I'm making 15 cents more than my last job, but hey, I really don't care. I'm pretty excited to be working as an EMT and hopefully I will like where this leads!

-rye
 
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