[Archived posts]

[Originally posted 4/24/06]

I've been a career firefighter with a metro fire district for 11 years now. For some reason, a small group -- of men -- have decided a 48/96 work schedule would be better than the schedule we are on now (24 on 24 off for 3 then 4-day). I've spoken up with regards to childcare issues, even potential custody problems for divorced spouses. I have not outright said I think this type of schedule is prejudicial against those of us with small children: especially the mom who traditionally takes on the primary caretaker role, but, that is how I feel. I will probably have to leave the fire service if I can't work out the childcare issues! There has been quite a bit of backlash over what little I have said. One of our Chiefs wrote that our e-mail system is no longer to be used as an open forum for the topic. Basically, "get over it" "suck it up" "accept the new schedule". Do any of you work for departments that currently have the 48/96-work schedule and if so, how does that work with regards to childcare and custody issues?

[Archived posts]

[Originally posted 5/4/06]

I have worked that schedule for 15 years and raised two kids as a single parent. I do have good family that I worked out child care with. My kids really didn't know any different and my department was very thoughtful about situations that occurred (sickness, special occasions). Now that my kids are adults and on their own, I return the favor and work the shifts for the guys with small kids: Christmas, etc. I found that I ended up having quite a bit of consecutive time with my kids and I tried to make those 96 hours count.

[divefrog]

Check with Boise, Idaho. They just switched to a 48/96 after researching other departments.

[firegirl512]

My department, Albuquerque Fire, has been on the 48/96 for years. In fact I think we may have been the first to do so. Although my kid isn't young anymore I love it. It does take some adjustment but really no more then our previous schedule. We have a lot of single parent men in our department that have sole custody of their kids & they like it also. The 48hs go fast & then you can go home & forget about the fire service for 4 days.

[Kathryn Harpold]

Our department made this switch about 4 years ago. I had reservations about how this would impact my daughters, one of whom is a special kid with needs. Their father and I share custody equally. Our experiance has been that the kids actually find it more stable and predictable than our previous schedule. In the past they felt that they were allways coming or going and just wanted to "be somewhere." Go figure; kids like stability.
I also find that I'm a little more present at home when I am not gearing up to go to work or winding down from being at work as frequently.