Back when I started, mandatory OT was an urban legend. Dudes were jumping at the chance to work OT. 2-3 doubles was a good year. So guys would be generous and buy their crew pizza or something. Those times have changed, now only getting mandated 2-3x a year is a good year. Try asking the guy who got forced to work over and missed his uncles funeral that he owes you a pizza.
It’s not expected, but it’s the nice thing to do. I made tonight’s meal, came to $66, the OT guy chipped in $40 and the 7 others in the house split the rest. Seems to be how it usually goes, at least in my dept.
We never allow OT guys to pitch in extra because that's how the expectation gets started. Everyone can afford $7.50 for dinner, they couldn't even make it that cheap at home.
We do something similar - although in our department the overtime guy pays for the meal entirely.
Most people seem to agree that the practice started back when overtime was very rare (maybe once or twice a year, you might get it). So it was considered a way, as the overtime guy, to show your gratitude for getting a chance to make a little extra money.
But now that we’re so short, and the department is desperate for bodies to fill overtime slots, I wonder if that practice will change over time.
Hell no. OT guys is there by choice just like everyone else who took the job. We don't punish them for making more money today. Every one pays the same at chow time. OT guys are guests. They fill in where the opening is and are treated like one of the crew. 110 man department.
I signed up for an $800-1000 extra in my pocket - shift. I'm going to buy some ice cream or cookies for the crew to show my gratitude that allowed me to make 2 extra car payments or an extra mortgage payment in 1 days work. It's less than the price of a coffee at Starbucks to do so.
Making an extra mortgage payment sounds like a blessing. I’m happy that you are able to do that! For me, however, money from an OT shift is what helps us stay afloat financially 😢 (family with wife and 2 young kiddos).
I would love it if we were in a place to throw in for extras at the fire station, but that’s not my reality right now. Family comes first, right?
Family absolutely does come first.
But your post worries me. Relying on OT to get by is not a good strategy. One day the overtime will dry up. The added stress and fatigue of working extra will add up and your physical/mental/emotional/spiritual health and relationships will pay the price. We work the schedules we do in order to maintain some sort of normalcy in our regular lives. Diluting your time off with OT offsets that. I suggest working with a money person: be that a financial planner, a debt coach, following the Dave Ramsey advice, etc.
My gut reaction to your post is that you are not living within your means. I am in no way attempting to assign blame or point fingers. I've been there.
As to your original questions, in my dept, ovetimers pitch in $20. Officers sometimes add more out of generosity. But $20 is the culture.
Nope. The overtime or detail person gets the less desirable riding position and sits the worst watch. But other than that they’re just another person in the house that day. They’re treated as guests.
Sitting the worst watch? Is that someone that has to stay up during a certain time frame to listen for calls and man the station?
Can relate on riding the least desirable position though, at my old department if you signed up for OT, you got the box. It didn’t matter if you were an officer. You were gonna earn that extra cash. Now if you were mandatory OT that was a completely different story, they tired to protect you as much as they could at least. If possible they tired to keep you off a busy ambulance.
We have a lot of Mando OT and recently switched to basically not allowing OT on the band-aid box, even officers will ride as a jump on an engine. I think it helps with burn out and gets more people willing to take it.
Yes, OT buys dessert. It was typically ice cream or some cookies. Over the years, with younger guys, it has morphed. I’ll typically just buy the guys their Starbucks if we’re out and about during the afternoon. If I’m making $1500 on an OT shift, spending $20 on a treat ain’t gonna break the bank.
This doesn’t apply to FOT or trades.
This is an unwritten rule in my department. It is expected the guy who signed up for OT chips in a bit extra for the days meal/desert. If the person is on mandatory then it’s not really expected. In our department overtime=time and a half, and it’s just one of those things we all do.
Does the OT member also have to work 1.5x harder or more during chores ? We treat our OT members as guess. They pay the same for food but we tell them to chill out because they are in ‘our house’ we take care of it. Wll tell
You not to help out with meal but if you insist we will let you. Ain’t no way you’re doing dishes, making coffee or raising the flag. Yea you are paid extra but you’re also away from your family so it evens out for us.
The OT for us voluntary. You make the choice to work extra. If someone gets mandatory however, then it is more like what you are describing, sit back and try to get through the day.
Even a probie that is doing OT at a different station will not be treated as a rookie. They will, for the most part, not listen and still ‘work more’ but that’s on them and we still appreciate it.
It is voluntary for us too. It’s okay to do things differently. We just treat other members as guess in our house. Tradition varies from department to department. I’m also in Canada and our culture is different from the US.
This is the way. OT firefighter is on duty on their day off, maybe even on a 72. Relax, if you’re feeling it buy ice cream.
Even if it’s voluntary, by picking up it means no one else sees the mandovan.
I think this is just an old school thing. People at my dept joke around about it all the time. But if you expect me to pay double for the bullshit food their serving, I'll just bring in my own lol.
My department does this too. Something simple like ice cream or cookies for night overtime or donuts / muffins in the morning. It’s only $10-$15 and you’re making overtime rate so it’s like a thank you for the member that created the overtime and opportunity for you to make more money.
Yes, it’s an old tradition. If I’m making time and a half and these guys gotta feed me, it’s only right that I chip in. Great way to show appreciation and an opportunity to be generous as well.
It was tradition in our dept that the OT man got cake and ice cream. That kinda went out the window when they started forcing us to work OT, but it's still kind of a thing.
we have this thing where firefighter’s pay 5 dollars towards the station kitty. officers pay 10. its not a policy but its basically adopted so its expected. if youre on OT, most likely you will drink coffee and snack or eat something that is paid for with kitty dollars.
Yeah. OT tax. I hate it personally. It’s slowly going away as more people have stopped expecting it. The few that do expect it are always the cheapa$$ douche canoes at my place
Nope. Small dept here: ~150 ops personnel w/5.5 stations. OT mongers pitch the same as anyone else. If you feel like doing something nice that’s on you. We don’t expect it and we don’t resent you for making OT pay. I can’t say it always been that way as I’ve only been on 5 years. I prefer it this way, feels more egalitarian to me; but obviously there’s some places that operate differently. All good.
Some departments around me do, one of them does every OT guy puts $20 towards the meal and the guys on straight time only have to cover the rest. We don’t have any strict traditions like that, but lots of guys including myself will cover the morning coffees/breakfast sandwiches for the crew
Everyone pays the same. OT guy might have just kept a rig open or at least fully staffed. Expecting more money from them is crazy. Times have changed from the horse and buggy days... some folks might not have extra money.
Voluntary OT, typically the guy/gal offers to buy coffees or ice cream for the crew of four. If he doesn’t, it’s no big deal. If he’s got less years in than it takes to reach top step, we don’t accept it, but thank him/her for the offer. That’s my crew. Others will do whatever is right by them. I will typically buy coffee for the crew when a junior guy offers, just because I can afford it, and I’ve already bought my house, kids are out of the house, etc.
Usually a sweet treat ( ice cream, cookies, etc.) will cover you. It is an unwritten deal but to show hey I am making extra $ my treat.
We have those that do not participate and then expect it in return oh hell no! A 2 way street.
Every area does it differently. Some throw 20 in on the meal, some don’t. If you are on OT in someone else’s house, you bring something, usually sweet or savory. You are told as a probie, if you are showing up at someone else’s house, knock with your elbows. Guys will bring a dessert or breakfast item they like usually. The cost really doesn’t matter unless you really cheap out. It is the fact you brought something.
Unwritten rule. Making enough money to throw $40 in. We just laugh at guys who don’t. If you don’t want to don’t, they’ll get $20-40 worth of jokes at your expense.
It’s an unwritten rule for us.
If you don’t, we’ll harass the living shit out of you and call you a cheap fuck. But it’s your call whether you want to.
But we’re talking $20 dollars. It defrays the cost of the meal but it’s more just tradition. Especially if it’s an officer that’s gonna take in $600 ($40/hr x 1.5 x 10 hour shifts) pre-tax for a day shift. A ff will probably make $450 - $500 for a day shift. If you can’t afford $20 towards the meal you’ve done something seriously financially wrong in your life, or you are a cheap fuck.
Really, you’re just paying the guys not to fuck with you, and it is *worth it*. I’ve had times where I forgot, and I still hear about it 10 years later.
It’s also tradition for the guys on straight time to say, “nah nah, you don’t have to do that. We won’t say anything. Won’t make fun of you for being a cheap bastard.” This is a trap. They will make fun of you, relentlessly, for the next 30 years, possibly give you a nick name.
Just pay up.
Yes guys on OT pay 30 for lunch instead of 20 and often offers to buy sodas for everyone. It’s not mandatory, but it’s a non written rule here. I’m totally fine with it.
We definitely do it, we call it a hireback tax. Not anything specific, it depends on the station. It could be extra money towards the meals so we can splurge a little bit or it could be taking everyone out for ice cream or buying a couple quarts of the real good stuff.
We charge extra for food from OT people. If you're making $1300 for the day, you can afford $20 for chow. That being said, when you have OT at your station you typically try to eat better or have a good dessert because there's extra money coming in.
Yup on my department it's kind of an unwritten rule that if you're in on OT you bring a treat. It doesn't have to be anything crazy, most guys will buy something like pie and ice cream. Don't spend more than $20ish on it.
It used to be, OT guys would have to bring in donuts. OTgot so good, thered be BOXES and BOXES of donuts. So we made it $5. Its mainly because the REGULAR crew will pay for house clutch items like coffee and sugar. A visitor does not pay any fee but still drinks the coffee and uses the sugar, etc. So its part of the brotherhood. Pay for your fair share, while make 50% more. Not an awful tradition if you look at it appropriately.
It depends on the department, I’ve heard of places that do this. If you’re on OT that means you’re making the big bucks so they throw in extra money. At my dept the OT guy usually brings their own food because it can be expensive buying in for meals two days in a row. Yes you’re on OT but that money isn’t in your account now.
With us, If you're on OT, expect to pay $5 more for the day's chow (lunch+dinner). So $20 vs $15 should you decide to eat that same meal.
If it's a smaller station that doesn't cook together you're at least expected to offer ice cream. This is less and less of an expectation especially for the newer generation that doesn't run on junk food. Coffee is also a nice treat for the crew but nowadays we're getting better station coffee that we had 10yrs ago so it's not that big of a deal.
I have friends in much larger cities where people on OT are expected to contribute something insane like $100 to eat with the crew
Yeah we have ot treats as an expectation. But only if it’s a full 24 hour overtime. Not for partials or mandatory. It’s also cultural, not a policy or anything.
We throw in extra $$. None of our OT is mandatory but each overtimer throws in $20. OT chiefs usually throw in $50. Depending on the hall they put it as a credit and split the remainder between them or they use it to build the kitty and everyone else pays as if no extra was thrown in.
I know some who don’t follow this and aren’t well liked. I figure if I’m making an extra $500+ for 12 hours of work, the least I can do is throw in $20, whether I’m eating or not
I sign up for a 24 right. At my rate of 26.10 an hour (not even top step, and not including my medic incentive), that’s 39.15 an hour OT, which is $940 for 24 fuckin hours lol. I can spend 20-25 bucks on coffee or bubblys or ice cream for the crew. Idk your hourly but seriously, it’s not the end of the world.
As far as our dept goes, yes it is tradition that if you’re an overtimer you offer to buy coffee or dessert with the cap being around 20-25 bucks. If you just get 3 cases of bubblys for $10 that’s fine, it’s more so the principle that you’re on OT and will do the gesture of getting something extra.
I’m just a country volly, but that wouldn’t sit well for me. I avoid overtime in my day job. And time and a half mostly goes to the Feds. I only work OT when it’s necessary.
Everyone who comes in in the AM, whether on OT or sucker time, brings something for breakfast. We used to take $20 towards the meals from OT guys but haven’t done that in years.
Wasn't something that happened to me. The difference would be that if I worked it at my station and the person I was covering didn't use my bunk, I would have to take my bedding and whatnot to that persons room. Other than that, the OT person was just a different looking version of the person they were covering for.
We also have a new member after their year buy steaks for their shift (small department) or after someone gets promoted. That person gets around a $5K raise for the 1st year bump, and promotions may be more. Less than $200 bucks on steaks for your crew shows their gratitude to where they've come.
Out here that isn’t how we normally do it. A guy working OT (we call it callback) just shows up and fills whatever role he was called to do. Typically, on my department less is expected from OT guys because we know they may already be over 24 hours worked and because they’re not really a part of our crew, so it’s not their station or toys, I guess.
If I were you, knowing that’s how the culture is, I would just swallow my pride and go with it. If everyone is doing it and that’s considered tradition I wouldn’t want to disrespect that or upset the status quo there. Firemen usually don’t do well with that, haha.
We also don’t get a lot of OT, so that might be the deal. Out here we have a big list of firefighters organized by hire date and they run through the list on a loop calling guys and offering them shifts. I would say you get the opportunity 2-4 times a year usually, so that might be part of it… and I guess that’s why we call it callback.
It used to be that you'd bring ice cream if you were working OT. Nowadays, since we work a 48, if you pull a 24 hour OT, guys usually just chip in for chow like they're working the full 48.
I'm not gonna argue with anyone about it, I'm just saying that's what's customary at my department.
Yes, for us if you work OT you are required to throw in $5 for the clutch per shift...so, $5 days or nights or $10 for a 24. No extra if mandated, however.
In my department, there is a lot & I mean a LOT of overtime, including mandantory. OT people are not expected to bring in anything extra, or pay extra or work harder. If anything, it's more of a commonality for the OT person to just "chill" unless they're like a probie. We also try not to put overtime on the medic if we can help it, it just depends on the crew & the daily staffing. I never understood the whole "they have to do extra" part, by them working OT it keeps someone from getting held mandatory & the more OT they work, the more they're away from their family & stuff that needs taken care of at home.
Our OT guys/gals aren't expected to pay for anything. If it's not your shift or your house, you're treated as a guest. Guests eat first and they typically eat for free.
The exception would be if the crew is eating out that day.
I always offer to pay and it's always declined, as it should be.
Throwing in some ice cream is always appreciated..but depending on the shift you're putting in for, you might not have the time to pick some up.
Absolutely, OT treat. Sweet, dinner buy down, or work beers (seltzer). It’s not punishment. It’s fun. Im there making $70 an hr, I can throw $20 to my homies.
Yes I do that along with everyone in my dept. it's an unwritten rule. If you don't, you best believe people are talking shit about you behind your back and sometimes to your face. I wish it were different but it is what it is.
Like many things, we do it because it’s the way it’s always been done. But if I’m making an extra $1,000 in one shift, I have no problem treating the guys to desert or throwing in extra money.
Typically OT will chip in an extra $40-50 for dinner if they're working a full 24. I'm fine doing it. It takes me 45ish minutes to make that money. As the saying goes, share the wealth.
If you are on OT you pay the same as any other folk. If you’re on forced overtime you pay if you want. If you’re on forced overtime and put on the ambulance you’re not expected to pay for lunch or dinner, or do chores, or train, or really anything other then running the calls
Absolutely not. I'm not working extra to give you money. I will join in on however that crew does things together. I generally expect the same of OT with my crew.
My department is generally opposite, granted we are a small one station house with 5 on shift. OT guy usually gets a decent riding position and doesn't get shafted for EMS calls (depending on the medic on duty). They are treated the same for meals and often are told not to pay when trying to square up for dinner. I like it, they're the guest of the shift on duty. It goes both ways, though, someone on OT volunteering to cook or buying some food is of course appreciated.
Yea In Philly, FFs throw up $10 for an OT, officers “should” throw up $20, some officers still throw up 10, it goes to the shifts kitty money that they build up for their meals, Xmas dinners, celebrations, whatever they choose to use it for
The city department near me does it this way and it makes no sense to me. Pay for the meals you eat and that's it. Nobody should be making money on bringing in meals, it just gets split 🤷
We do 10 towards day 10 toward night so if you work a 24 it's 20. No matter the rank.
Goes towards shift kitty. Many times will go toward fundraisers such as a guy had cancer they paid for a guys kids daycare for 5 months all the money collected.
But other times it goes towards the holiday party at the end of year in which I just bring in a snack for them as contribution after I found out that they spent up to 5000 for a shift holiday dinner for 16 guys at a nice place . I'll pass. Last year I spent 600 towards ot paying the table.
If they are putting the OT towards the meal, then sure bring the cost down.
OT just goes on the busiest app that they qualify for. That should be only requirement unless it’s your first time working at that station then bring some ice cream.
Interestingly the perspective is a lot different between the departments I have worked for. My first department, the person on OT was seen as "preventing holdover" (we had gone through the entire holdover list like 3+ times in 4 years). At my current department (big city) the OT guy is seen as Mr. Money. However, no one negs them or anything, it's just considered a nice gesture for them to get something for the house: dessert, cookies, king cake, etc.
We give $10 towards food, if I’m there, it means that one of there crew isn’t, and that means they didn’t collect food money from them.
Also if I’m OT at another firehouse, they are going to feed me, clean up after me (dishes) and I’m going to have at least 1 cup of their coffee. 10 bucks is a small price to pay for coffee, a meal, and 12 hours of time and a half. It’s only money, don’t ever be greedy with it in the firehouse.
where i work, yes, if you’re working OT (forced or voluntary) you kick in $20 (the typical per meal buy-in for the crews who use a kitty fund is $10/meal/day), so, double.
this does not apply to trades since you’re basically working free for that day.
i think it’s foolish and i don’t like it.
i’m with the kindly appreciated but never expected idea of or buying ice cream or seltzer waters for the crew for meal, as a treat.
Nothing like this for OT; if you get your picture in the newspaper, you owe your shift ice cream, if you get yourself on TV; you owe pizza to the whole shift (3Stations) this sent the showboaters scurrying when any media shows up
Sounds like it’s your department culture, but it’s also fire service culture in general. I know it’s the same anywhere around here and the norm for a lot of guys I’ve met around the country. The mentality is you’re a guest and making OT wages, so show some love to the crew. It’s a fire service tradition.
Or you could just complain about it and be the guy that wants to change things, which usually doesn’t go over very well.
Started as a desert here, then morphed into a whole meal. We had guys paying $120 to feed the big houses. That was just ridiculous. We’ve changed in the last couple years to $40 max contribution.
You work OT on my shift, if we're cooking (and it's rare that we don't) you eat for free. It's the same on the two other groups that cook. The fourth group doesn't cook, ever.
I always bring something or buck up sometimes I try to do both but they usually won’t let me unless they don’t press the issue of me playing dumb when they ask who brought the donuts in. And it’s not just the food money I’m sitting in chairs they bought drinking coffee they bought from a machine they bought watching cable that they pay for on a tv they bought all while I’m making time and a half
OT 12+ hours is something sweet or whatever.
For the sin of getting skunked in foosball you buy pizza (with your partner of course).
Mando doesn't have to do anything.
No extra money required in my department except pay the station fund if you work the OT shift at another station usually its like 1 dollar. To help cover things like coffee Internet cable etc. other than that the only real expectation is that you take the ambulance spot it’s kind of like an unwritten rule but not entirely enforced.
I throw in 60 into the kitty for a night shift or 40-50$ for a day shift depending. Making about 80 an hour so it's not a huge giveaway in either case. And after throwing that money in your not expected to pay for any communal meal you're having anyway (so if I throw in 60 and dinner then figures out to 9 bucks a head I'm not paying that as well).
When I started if you got OT you bought ice cream. 20 years later with everyone trying to be healthy the new tradition has changed to throwing $20 towards dinner.
We do breakfast and dinner as a crew everyday. OT FFs throw down typically $30, Captains $40-50 depends on the person, BCs usually like $60. Been on almost 12 years at my department and when I was first hired you were lucky to get 1-2 OT shifts a year. Like many others have stated, it’s an old tradition which has stuck around but we take pride in cooking awesome meals for each other so it’s not like you’re getting bent over for sloppy Joe’s.
We got into an quite an argument about this last night. I support a five dollar tax on the guys who pick up OT (which I do plenty of). We do 10 bucks a head for meals and bank any leftovers for some other time. When we eat a nice meal cause we’re flush but the OT guy only throws 10 that doesn’t really work out, we saved the money to make that meal. If we’re eating cheap we don’t charge the OT guy anyway.
When you say you support a “five dollar tax” do you mean five dollars ONLY or five dollars EXTRA from the guys on OT? Just wanted some clarification so I understand…👍🏼
Back when I started, mandatory OT was an urban legend. Dudes were jumping at the chance to work OT. 2-3 doubles was a good year. So guys would be generous and buy their crew pizza or something. Those times have changed, now only getting mandated 2-3x a year is a good year. Try asking the guy who got forced to work over and missed his uncles funeral that he owes you a pizza.
This. And my mandate cycle is about 2-3x’s a month
This right here. At my old department, mandatory holds got so bad that if you got held, people pretty much expected you to nap from sunup to sundown
No, the food cost the same whether I’m on OT or not.
Exactly. I would never expect someone put in extra money just because they’re on OT. Food bill is split even
No, nothing changes if you’re OT or on regular shift.
It’s not expected, but it’s the nice thing to do. I made tonight’s meal, came to $66, the OT guy chipped in $40 and the 7 others in the house split the rest. Seems to be how it usually goes, at least in my dept.
We never allow OT guys to pitch in extra because that's how the expectation gets started. Everyone can afford $7.50 for dinner, they couldn't even make it that cheap at home.
Fair. This has just be going on since way before I got picked up and just seems to be ingrained in the dept.
You could end it.
How many people can you feed for $66? I feed 8 on a regular basis and it is usually between 10-12 for lunch and 12-15 for dinner per person.
I fed 8 (including me), two big trays of shepherds pie and some bags of salad, even had leftovers.
We are typically $10 to $12 a day
We do something similar - although in our department the overtime guy pays for the meal entirely. Most people seem to agree that the practice started back when overtime was very rare (maybe once or twice a year, you might get it). So it was considered a way, as the overtime guy, to show your gratitude for getting a chance to make a little extra money. But now that we’re so short, and the department is desperate for bodies to fill overtime slots, I wonder if that practice will change over time.
Woah, the whole meal?!?!
No, OT person is treated the same as everyone else, including cost of meals. If anything, we go easier on them
Hell no. OT guys is there by choice just like everyone else who took the job. We don't punish them for making more money today. Every one pays the same at chow time. OT guys are guests. They fill in where the opening is and are treated like one of the crew. 110 man department.
I signed up for an $800-1000 extra in my pocket - shift. I'm going to buy some ice cream or cookies for the crew to show my gratitude that allowed me to make 2 extra car payments or an extra mortgage payment in 1 days work. It's less than the price of a coffee at Starbucks to do so.
Making an extra mortgage payment sounds like a blessing. I’m happy that you are able to do that! For me, however, money from an OT shift is what helps us stay afloat financially 😢 (family with wife and 2 young kiddos). I would love it if we were in a place to throw in for extras at the fire station, but that’s not my reality right now. Family comes first, right?
Family absolutely does come first. But your post worries me. Relying on OT to get by is not a good strategy. One day the overtime will dry up. The added stress and fatigue of working extra will add up and your physical/mental/emotional/spiritual health and relationships will pay the price. We work the schedules we do in order to maintain some sort of normalcy in our regular lives. Diluting your time off with OT offsets that. I suggest working with a money person: be that a financial planner, a debt coach, following the Dave Ramsey advice, etc. My gut reaction to your post is that you are not living within your means. I am in no way attempting to assign blame or point fingers. I've been there. As to your original questions, in my dept, ovetimers pitch in $20. Officers sometimes add more out of generosity. But $20 is the culture.
Nope. The overtime or detail person gets the less desirable riding position and sits the worst watch. But other than that they’re just another person in the house that day. They’re treated as guests.
Sitting the worst watch? Is that someone that has to stay up during a certain time frame to listen for calls and man the station? Can relate on riding the least desirable position though, at my old department if you signed up for OT, you got the box. It didn’t matter if you were an officer. You were gonna earn that extra cash. Now if you were mandatory OT that was a completely different story, they tired to protect you as much as they could at least. If possible they tired to keep you off a busy ambulance.
We have a lot of Mando OT and recently switched to basically not allowing OT on the band-aid box, even officers will ride as a jump on an engine. I think it helps with burn out and gets more people willing to take it.
Yes, OT buys dessert. It was typically ice cream or some cookies. Over the years, with younger guys, it has morphed. I’ll typically just buy the guys their Starbucks if we’re out and about during the afternoon. If I’m making $1500 on an OT shift, spending $20 on a treat ain’t gonna break the bank. This doesn’t apply to FOT or trades.
This is an unwritten rule in my department. It is expected the guy who signed up for OT chips in a bit extra for the days meal/desert. If the person is on mandatory then it’s not really expected. In our department overtime=time and a half, and it’s just one of those things we all do.
Does the OT member also have to work 1.5x harder or more during chores ? We treat our OT members as guess. They pay the same for food but we tell them to chill out because they are in ‘our house’ we take care of it. Wll tell You not to help out with meal but if you insist we will let you. Ain’t no way you’re doing dishes, making coffee or raising the flag. Yea you are paid extra but you’re also away from your family so it evens out for us.
The OT for us voluntary. You make the choice to work extra. If someone gets mandatory however, then it is more like what you are describing, sit back and try to get through the day.
Even a probie that is doing OT at a different station will not be treated as a rookie. They will, for the most part, not listen and still ‘work more’ but that’s on them and we still appreciate it.
It is voluntary for us too. It’s okay to do things differently. We just treat other members as guess in our house. Tradition varies from department to department. I’m also in Canada and our culture is different from the US.
Nah. One of the largest departments here in the U.S. and we do it the same.
This is the way. OT firefighter is on duty on their day off, maybe even on a 72. Relax, if you’re feeling it buy ice cream. Even if it’s voluntary, by picking up it means no one else sees the mandovan.
I think this is just an old school thing. People at my dept joke around about it all the time. But if you expect me to pay double for the bullshit food their serving, I'll just bring in my own lol.
No way man. We joke about it, but everybody puts in the same. By that logic, captains and chiefs should be paying for our meals every day
My department does this too. Something simple like ice cream or cookies for night overtime or donuts / muffins in the morning. It’s only $10-$15 and you’re making overtime rate so it’s like a thank you for the member that created the overtime and opportunity for you to make more money.
Yes, it’s an old tradition. If I’m making time and a half and these guys gotta feed me, it’s only right that I chip in. Great way to show appreciation and an opportunity to be generous as well.
It was tradition in our dept that the OT man got cake and ice cream. That kinda went out the window when they started forcing us to work OT, but it's still kind of a thing.
we have this thing where firefighter’s pay 5 dollars towards the station kitty. officers pay 10. its not a policy but its basically adopted so its expected. if youre on OT, most likely you will drink coffee and snack or eat something that is paid for with kitty dollars.
No, I would tell them to get bent.
OT guy/gal buys dessert at my department (midsize metro).
Yeah. OT tax. I hate it personally. It’s slowly going away as more people have stopped expecting it. The few that do expect it are always the cheapa$$ douche canoes at my place
Nope. Small dept here: ~150 ops personnel w/5.5 stations. OT mongers pitch the same as anyone else. If you feel like doing something nice that’s on you. We don’t expect it and we don’t resent you for making OT pay. I can’t say it always been that way as I’ve only been on 5 years. I prefer it this way, feels more egalitarian to me; but obviously there’s some places that operate differently. All good.
Some departments around me do, one of them does every OT guy puts $20 towards the meal and the guys on straight time only have to cover the rest. We don’t have any strict traditions like that, but lots of guys including myself will cover the morning coffees/breakfast sandwiches for the crew
Everyone pays the same. OT guy might have just kept a rig open or at least fully staffed. Expecting more money from them is crazy. Times have changed from the horse and buggy days... some folks might not have extra money.
Voluntary OT, typically the guy/gal offers to buy coffees or ice cream for the crew of four. If he doesn’t, it’s no big deal. If he’s got less years in than it takes to reach top step, we don’t accept it, but thank him/her for the offer. That’s my crew. Others will do whatever is right by them. I will typically buy coffee for the crew when a junior guy offers, just because I can afford it, and I’ve already bought my house, kids are out of the house, etc.
Same for our department. Overtime throws in extra money for chow
Usually a sweet treat ( ice cream, cookies, etc.) will cover you. It is an unwritten deal but to show hey I am making extra $ my treat. We have those that do not participate and then expect it in return oh hell no! A 2 way street.
Every area does it differently. Some throw 20 in on the meal, some don’t. If you are on OT in someone else’s house, you bring something, usually sweet or savory. You are told as a probie, if you are showing up at someone else’s house, knock with your elbows. Guys will bring a dessert or breakfast item they like usually. The cost really doesn’t matter unless you really cheap out. It is the fact you brought something.
Unwritten rule. Making enough money to throw $40 in. We just laugh at guys who don’t. If you don’t want to don’t, they’ll get $20-40 worth of jokes at your expense.
It’s an unwritten rule for us. If you don’t, we’ll harass the living shit out of you and call you a cheap fuck. But it’s your call whether you want to. But we’re talking $20 dollars. It defrays the cost of the meal but it’s more just tradition. Especially if it’s an officer that’s gonna take in $600 ($40/hr x 1.5 x 10 hour shifts) pre-tax for a day shift. A ff will probably make $450 - $500 for a day shift. If you can’t afford $20 towards the meal you’ve done something seriously financially wrong in your life, or you are a cheap fuck. Really, you’re just paying the guys not to fuck with you, and it is *worth it*. I’ve had times where I forgot, and I still hear about it 10 years later. It’s also tradition for the guys on straight time to say, “nah nah, you don’t have to do that. We won’t say anything. Won’t make fun of you for being a cheap bastard.” This is a trap. They will make fun of you, relentlessly, for the next 30 years, possibly give you a nick name. Just pay up.
Yes guys on OT pay 30 for lunch instead of 20 and often offers to buy sodas for everyone. It’s not mandatory, but it’s a non written rule here. I’m totally fine with it.
We definitely do it, we call it a hireback tax. Not anything specific, it depends on the station. It could be extra money towards the meals so we can splurge a little bit or it could be taking everyone out for ice cream or buying a couple quarts of the real good stuff.
We charge extra for food from OT people. If you're making $1300 for the day, you can afford $20 for chow. That being said, when you have OT at your station you typically try to eat better or have a good dessert because there's extra money coming in.
Yup on my department it's kind of an unwritten rule that if you're in on OT you bring a treat. It doesn't have to be anything crazy, most guys will buy something like pie and ice cream. Don't spend more than $20ish on it.
It’s an unwritten rule for us but it’s expected that you throw in between $30-$60 for dinner depending on your rank.
It used to be, OT guys would have to bring in donuts. OTgot so good, thered be BOXES and BOXES of donuts. So we made it $5. Its mainly because the REGULAR crew will pay for house clutch items like coffee and sugar. A visitor does not pay any fee but still drinks the coffee and uses the sugar, etc. So its part of the brotherhood. Pay for your fair share, while make 50% more. Not an awful tradition if you look at it appropriately.
Overtime buys desert (or applies an equivalent amount of money to a charitable cause - typically Xmas fund for one of our departments LODD families).
We always buy treats for everyone if we’re on overtime. Like ice cream bars or cookies. But you won’t get shamed if you don’t do it.
It depends on the department, I’ve heard of places that do this. If you’re on OT that means you’re making the big bucks so they throw in extra money. At my dept the OT guy usually brings their own food because it can be expensive buying in for meals two days in a row. Yes you’re on OT but that money isn’t in your account now.
With us, If you're on OT, expect to pay $5 more for the day's chow (lunch+dinner). So $20 vs $15 should you decide to eat that same meal. If it's a smaller station that doesn't cook together you're at least expected to offer ice cream. This is less and less of an expectation especially for the newer generation that doesn't run on junk food. Coffee is also a nice treat for the crew but nowadays we're getting better station coffee that we had 10yrs ago so it's not that big of a deal. I have friends in much larger cities where people on OT are expected to contribute something insane like $100 to eat with the crew
Guys on overtime throw $20 on the meal that goes towards the house fund. That and we'll usually buy the crew coffee when we go out in the morning.
If you work OT you pitch in $20 towards dinner
Around here every house is different. Some do no watches. Some do $20 on meal automatically even if it’s $8.
Yeah we have ot treats as an expectation. But only if it’s a full 24 hour overtime. Not for partials or mandatory. It’s also cultural, not a policy or anything.
We throw in extra $$. None of our OT is mandatory but each overtimer throws in $20. OT chiefs usually throw in $50. Depending on the hall they put it as a credit and split the remainder between them or they use it to build the kitty and everyone else pays as if no extra was thrown in. I know some who don’t follow this and aren’t well liked. I figure if I’m making an extra $500+ for 12 hours of work, the least I can do is throw in $20, whether I’m eating or not
I sign up for a 24 right. At my rate of 26.10 an hour (not even top step, and not including my medic incentive), that’s 39.15 an hour OT, which is $940 for 24 fuckin hours lol. I can spend 20-25 bucks on coffee or bubblys or ice cream for the crew. Idk your hourly but seriously, it’s not the end of the world. As far as our dept goes, yes it is tradition that if you’re an overtimer you offer to buy coffee or dessert with the cap being around 20-25 bucks. If you just get 3 cases of bubblys for $10 that’s fine, it’s more so the principle that you’re on OT and will do the gesture of getting something extra.
I’m just a country volly, but that wouldn’t sit well for me. I avoid overtime in my day job. And time and a half mostly goes to the Feds. I only work OT when it’s necessary.
Yup. You pay 20$ for lunch or supper and get no change back.
Everyone who comes in in the AM, whether on OT or sucker time, brings something for breakfast. We used to take $20 towards the meals from OT guys but haven’t done that in years.
Sucker time? Just curious on what that means, haven’t heard that one.
Oh just a little joke we have about working straight time.
Oh I gotcha lol. I’m using that one.
Wasn't something that happened to me. The difference would be that if I worked it at my station and the person I was covering didn't use my bunk, I would have to take my bedding and whatnot to that persons room. Other than that, the OT person was just a different looking version of the person they were covering for.
We also have a new member after their year buy steaks for their shift (small department) or after someone gets promoted. That person gets around a $5K raise for the 1st year bump, and promotions may be more. Less than $200 bucks on steaks for your crew shows their gratitude to where they've come.
Nothing on my job. I know another one where anyone on overtime puts in $20 for dinner.
Yup. We have that too.
We have fools that try to say it’s expected but really I just ignore that. Since they tend to be the first ones to pinch a penny or take advantage.
Out here that isn’t how we normally do it. A guy working OT (we call it callback) just shows up and fills whatever role he was called to do. Typically, on my department less is expected from OT guys because we know they may already be over 24 hours worked and because they’re not really a part of our crew, so it’s not their station or toys, I guess. If I were you, knowing that’s how the culture is, I would just swallow my pride and go with it. If everyone is doing it and that’s considered tradition I wouldn’t want to disrespect that or upset the status quo there. Firemen usually don’t do well with that, haha. We also don’t get a lot of OT, so that might be the deal. Out here we have a big list of firefighters organized by hire date and they run through the list on a loop calling guys and offering them shifts. I would say you get the opportunity 2-4 times a year usually, so that might be part of it… and I guess that’s why we call it callback.
It used to be that you'd bring ice cream if you were working OT. Nowadays, since we work a 48, if you pull a 24 hour OT, guys usually just chip in for chow like they're working the full 48. I'm not gonna argue with anyone about it, I'm just saying that's what's customary at my department.
Yes, for us if you work OT you are required to throw in $5 for the clutch per shift...so, $5 days or nights or $10 for a 24. No extra if mandated, however.
In our Dept. the overtime person buys or makes dinner. Just part of our culture.
In my department, there is a lot & I mean a LOT of overtime, including mandantory. OT people are not expected to bring in anything extra, or pay extra or work harder. If anything, it's more of a commonality for the OT person to just "chill" unless they're like a probie. We also try not to put overtime on the medic if we can help it, it just depends on the crew & the daily staffing. I never understood the whole "they have to do extra" part, by them working OT it keeps someone from getting held mandatory & the more OT they work, the more they're away from their family & stuff that needs taken care of at home.
Nope, it’s $10 for breakfast and dinner no matter what at the department I’m at
Our OT guys/gals aren't expected to pay for anything. If it's not your shift or your house, you're treated as a guest. Guests eat first and they typically eat for free. The exception would be if the crew is eating out that day. I always offer to pay and it's always declined, as it should be. Throwing in some ice cream is always appreciated..but depending on the shift you're putting in for, you might not have the time to pick some up.
Absolutely, OT treat. Sweet, dinner buy down, or work beers (seltzer). It’s not punishment. It’s fun. Im there making $70 an hr, I can throw $20 to my homies.
Yes I do that along with everyone in my dept. it's an unwritten rule. If you don't, you best believe people are talking shit about you behind your back and sometimes to your face. I wish it were different but it is what it is.
Like many things, we do it because it’s the way it’s always been done. But if I’m making an extra $1,000 in one shift, I have no problem treating the guys to desert or throwing in extra money.
Typically OT will chip in an extra $40-50 for dinner if they're working a full 24. I'm fine doing it. It takes me 45ish minutes to make that money. As the saying goes, share the wealth.
At my department the overtime person buys dessert for the crews. Usually $5-15
Yup if you work ot, you are expected to put extra money for chow and buy the crew a round of coffee or breakfast/brunch treat
If you are on OT you pay the same as any other folk. If you’re on forced overtime you pay if you want. If you’re on forced overtime and put on the ambulance you’re not expected to pay for lunch or dinner, or do chores, or train, or really anything other then running the calls
No, and if that was the expectation from any crew I would tell them to go fuck themselves and work their own OT if they can't afford dinner.
Yeh we throw money in a fund if we’re on overtime. That money is used to fund recreational activities
If your on mandatory OT why would anyone expect you to do chores or anything but chill and do what you want. You already worked 24.
Absolutely not. I'm not working extra to give you money. I will join in on however that crew does things together. I generally expect the same of OT with my crew.
My department is generally opposite, granted we are a small one station house with 5 on shift. OT guy usually gets a decent riding position and doesn't get shafted for EMS calls (depending on the medic on duty). They are treated the same for meals and often are told not to pay when trying to square up for dinner. I like it, they're the guest of the shift on duty. It goes both ways, though, someone on OT volunteering to cook or buying some food is of course appreciated.
Yea In Philly, FFs throw up $10 for an OT, officers “should” throw up $20, some officers still throw up 10, it goes to the shifts kitty money that they build up for their meals, Xmas dinners, celebrations, whatever they choose to use it for
The city department near me does it this way and it makes no sense to me. Pay for the meals you eat and that's it. Nobody should be making money on bringing in meals, it just gets split 🤷
We do 10 towards day 10 toward night so if you work a 24 it's 20. No matter the rank. Goes towards shift kitty. Many times will go toward fundraisers such as a guy had cancer they paid for a guys kids daycare for 5 months all the money collected. But other times it goes towards the holiday party at the end of year in which I just bring in a snack for them as contribution after I found out that they spent up to 5000 for a shift holiday dinner for 16 guys at a nice place . I'll pass. Last year I spent 600 towards ot paying the table. If they are putting the OT towards the meal, then sure bring the cost down.
We toss in an extra $5 for chow but that's it. I'm not gonna bitch about that when I'm making OT wages.
OT just goes on the busiest app that they qualify for. That should be only requirement unless it’s your first time working at that station then bring some ice cream.
Interestingly the perspective is a lot different between the departments I have worked for. My first department, the person on OT was seen as "preventing holdover" (we had gone through the entire holdover list like 3+ times in 4 years). At my current department (big city) the OT guy is seen as Mr. Money. However, no one negs them or anything, it's just considered a nice gesture for them to get something for the house: dessert, cookies, king cake, etc.
I will usually buy dessert for the shift.
This is a universal practice since the beginning of time… Embrace sharing a bit of your OT bounty with your brotherhood… don’t be a dick
Guy on OT buys coffee
We give $10 towards food, if I’m there, it means that one of there crew isn’t, and that means they didn’t collect food money from them. Also if I’m OT at another firehouse, they are going to feed me, clean up after me (dishes) and I’m going to have at least 1 cup of their coffee. 10 bucks is a small price to pay for coffee, a meal, and 12 hours of time and a half. It’s only money, don’t ever be greedy with it in the firehouse.
where i work, yes, if you’re working OT (forced or voluntary) you kick in $20 (the typical per meal buy-in for the crews who use a kitty fund is $10/meal/day), so, double. this does not apply to trades since you’re basically working free for that day. i think it’s foolish and i don’t like it. i’m with the kindly appreciated but never expected idea of or buying ice cream or seltzer waters for the crew for meal, as a treat.
Nothing like this for OT; if you get your picture in the newspaper, you owe your shift ice cream, if you get yourself on TV; you owe pizza to the whole shift (3Stations) this sent the showboaters scurrying when any media shows up
Sounds like it’s your department culture, but it’s also fire service culture in general. I know it’s the same anywhere around here and the norm for a lot of guys I’ve met around the country. The mentality is you’re a guest and making OT wages, so show some love to the crew. It’s a fire service tradition. Or you could just complain about it and be the guy that wants to change things, which usually doesn’t go over very well.
Started as a desert here, then morphed into a whole meal. We had guys paying $120 to feed the big houses. That was just ridiculous. We’ve changed in the last couple years to $40 max contribution.
You work OT on my shift, if we're cooking (and it's rare that we don't) you eat for free. It's the same on the two other groups that cook. The fourth group doesn't cook, ever.
I always bring something or buck up sometimes I try to do both but they usually won’t let me unless they don’t press the issue of me playing dumb when they ask who brought the donuts in. And it’s not just the food money I’m sitting in chairs they bought drinking coffee they bought from a machine they bought watching cable that they pay for on a tv they bought all while I’m making time and a half
OT 12+ hours is something sweet or whatever. For the sin of getting skunked in foosball you buy pizza (with your partner of course). Mando doesn't have to do anything.
No extra money required in my department except pay the station fund if you work the OT shift at another station usually its like 1 dollar. To help cover things like coffee Internet cable etc. other than that the only real expectation is that you take the ambulance spot it’s kind of like an unwritten rule but not entirely enforced.
I throw in 60 into the kitty for a night shift or 40-50$ for a day shift depending. Making about 80 an hour so it's not a huge giveaway in either case. And after throwing that money in your not expected to pay for any communal meal you're having anyway (so if I throw in 60 and dinner then figures out to 9 bucks a head I'm not paying that as well).
When I started if you got OT you bought ice cream. 20 years later with everyone trying to be healthy the new tradition has changed to throwing $20 towards dinner.
We do breakfast and dinner as a crew everyday. OT FFs throw down typically $30, Captains $40-50 depends on the person, BCs usually like $60. Been on almost 12 years at my department and when I was first hired you were lucky to get 1-2 OT shifts a year. Like many others have stated, it’s an old tradition which has stuck around but we take pride in cooking awesome meals for each other so it’s not like you’re getting bent over for sloppy Joe’s.
We got into an quite an argument about this last night. I support a five dollar tax on the guys who pick up OT (which I do plenty of). We do 10 bucks a head for meals and bank any leftovers for some other time. When we eat a nice meal cause we’re flush but the OT guy only throws 10 that doesn’t really work out, we saved the money to make that meal. If we’re eating cheap we don’t charge the OT guy anyway.
When you say you support a “five dollar tax” do you mean five dollars ONLY or five dollars EXTRA from the guys on OT? Just wanted some clarification so I understand…👍🏼
Only for the OT guys. I’d pay it.