Compensation

[jboczek]

For you guys that are paid on call, how are you compensated? Our workers comp insurance just went up $1200 because our payroll went up a bunch, after we started running 1st Respnder calls. We currently get paid by the hour. I know some places "reimburse" which technically isn't payroll, or taxable. What do you guys do?

[jaybird210]

Jack, we are POC and also pay by the hour. I will e-mail you the specifics. I know that a neighboring town does an incentive program. I do not know the specifics there, but I will include the chief's info in my e-mail to you.

[pcfdcap1]

We don't get paid. We get no incentives. We get $1.50 for the first hour of a fire call and $1hr after that. Training nights we get $1.50, meeting nights 50c. Ambulance calls the EMT-Bs get $10.00 and EMT-Is get $12.50 per call. Firemen get the same for fire calls now as my father did in 1963. We approached the trustees several times over the last few years to raise the reimbursement for calls. It hasn't done any good yet. Of course, they have continually given themselves more money for attending their meetings. Oops, this is turning out to be fodder for the other thread.

[jboczek]

Cap, you referred to your "pay" as reimbursement. Is that how it's treated and not as wages? That would mean you wouldn't have to pay income tax & social security on it and the district wouldn't have wages to base their workers comp insurance premiums on. This is what I'm looking for.

[80FIRE]

Jack
Our department is kind of like pcfd's. We are compensated a few dollars for each fire call and training night. Ours is considered a "clothing allowance" type of payment. We do not have to pay taxes on it. Two years ago we had a very large increase in our call volume and workmans comp raised our rates for the next year even though we dropped back to our normal ammount of calls. Don't think the money amount would have caused it they must have went by call volume.

[pcfdcap1]

Jack, No we dont have taxes taken out. We get our reimbursements twice a year. As for work comp, not to side step the subject but, two years ago we found out we went 6 weeks without any. The Sec/Treas of the trustees was late with payment and our coverage got cancelled. Lucky for him, us and our taxpayers we didn't have a claim during that period.

[jboczek]

Guess I'll have to do some more checkingon the workers comp insurance costs. From what 80fire says it may not make much difference how we get paid, they'll find a way to get their money. I'd still like to do something different with our "pay" package, just can't find the right thing. Thanks for the replys.

[jstafrftr]

We are POC. We get paid $12.00 for the first hour of the call, and $8.00 per hour after that. We get paid every 6 months. All applicable taxes are deducted from our checks.

As for the WC issue, make sure that only wages which are for fire calls are used for the fire call premium. For example, if there are clerical salaries, (secretaries, officers pay) these should be considered at the lower WC rate than "firefighting" salaries. We had that same problem, until our Chief showed the WC auditor that we had some salaries that were not directly related to firefighting activities. Saved us some money. You would have to create a separate line item in the budget for the clerical salaries to have proof of the difference.

Hope this helps. Stay Safe.

[BVFD1983]

We get nothing :)

[MikeF25]

We are technically considered city employees. We are POC and we get 13.00 per training and 9.00 a call. We get paid every three months and taxes are taken out.

I consider it bonus, when I went to join I was under the impression we got nothing.

I have no clue about WC insurance.

[BVFD1983]

We are also village employees even though we get nothing.

[ChiefReason]

Jack:
Firefighters are given a stipend for fire calls, meetings and training.
If they so choose, they can add it to their income and pay tax.
Also, workers comp goes up every year, because it can, because of claim history and because of payroll.
Alot has to do with your experience modification rating, claims of value and any reserves that carry over to the next year.
As far as the EMR; if your mod rate is say .75, you would be paying 25% less than someone else at 1.00. If your mod rate is 1.25, you would be paying 25% MORE than a company with a better experience.
I have been told by insiders that insurance companies make money at 75% of premium. If claims have eaten the premium to 85%, then you can figure on an increase.
It's crazy.
CR

[k3twpfire]

Our pay rates for a fire call:

$5.00/base pay for everyone

$1.00 for each certification level (FFII,FIII,FAE,etc.)


So a person with FFIII and FAE would make $5.00 + $3.00 + $1.00 = $9 per call.

If the call lasts longer than 1 1/2 hours you get your basepay plus $2.00/hr

[lilyogi]

Here is how our dept works:

Fire dept gets $3.00 per call no matter how long the call is
$3.00 per meeting, 1 meeting per month

ambulance service is $5.00 per hour from dispatch until the rig is back in the station, average 2-3 hour per call

We get "reiembersed" once a year.

Any training is paid for by the depts. plus milage if applicable

[jaybird210]

Here's an interesting thing for all to consider ('specially you chiefs):

For those of you who are paid hourly, if somebody really wanted to get crappy about it, you'd better be paid at least $6.50 and hour. That's the minimum wage. The DOL could go back and force you to pay back wages.

Come to think of it, they could also fine you for not paying at least once per month.....:(

[IACOJRev]

Will pray for PopTarts :D

[GFPD2707]

We r paid $8 per call Fire or Ems and $8 for meetings 3 a month but if we do not call in an absence for the meeting we r fined $8 ......anymore perticulars and u will just hafta contact me