Questions about state labor laws and their protection of firefighters

[MeasterBFD]

What state statue provides protection against being fired or disciplined if you are late or miss work because of a call? I know many other states have this provision in their laws I was wondering if Connecticut did and if we do where I could find a copy of the law to keep on file.

[Adze39]

Here's the closest statute I found:

Sec. 7-322b. Volunteers serving in municipality where employed. Fire and ambulance leaves. Enactment by municipality. List of participating members. Benefits. (a) Any active member of a volunteer fire company, as defined in section 7-314, or any emergency medical technician, as defined in section 19a-175, who is a member of an emergency medical service organization and employed between the hours of eight o'clock a.m. and five o'clock p.m. in a municipality other than the municipality in which the volunteer fire company or emergency medical service organization to which the individual belongs is located, may serve as a member of any volunteer fire company or emergency medical service organization located in the municipality where such individual is employed during such hours, subject to the provisions of this section. Nothing herein shall be construed to require any volunteer fire company or emergency medical service organization to accept the services of persons who are available for service pursuant to this section.
(b) Upon the request of a volunteer fire company or an emergency medical service organization, a municipality may, by vote of its legislative body, provide that the municipality and any person, firm or corporation located within such municipality which employs ten or more persons at one location shall allow any active member of a volunteer fire company, as defined in section 7-314, or any emergency medical technician, as defined in section 19a-175, to leave his place of employment, without loss of pay, vacation time, sick leave or earned overtime accumulation, to respond to an emergency to which a volunteer fire company or emergency medical service organization of the municipality is responding, subject to such conditions and regulations as the municipality may provide by ordinance. No employer shall (1) discharge, discipline or reduce the wages, vacation time, sick leave or earned overtime accumulation of any employee because such employee is a member in a volunteer fire company or emergency medical service organization or (2) require refusal to respond to an emergency as a condition of continued employment. The requirements of this section shall not be altered by any collective bargaining agreement.
(c) Any such member or technician who participates pursuant to this section shall register with the volunteer fire department or emergency medical service organization in the municipality in which such person is employed. Each volunteer fire company or emergency medical service organization shall maintain a list of individuals employed within the municipality where such volunteer fire company or emergency medical service organization is located and available to respond to an emergency between the hours of eight o'clock a.m. and five o'clock p.m.
(d) The services of a member of a volunteer fire company or emergency medical service organization who leaves a place of employment to respond to an emergency shall be provided in accordance with any internal operating procedures established by the volunteer fire company or emergency medical service organization.
(e) Any member of a volunteer fire company or emergency medical service organization who responds to an emergency pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be entitled to receive all benefits payable under the provisions of sections 7-314 and 7- 314a. Such payments shall be made by the municipality in which the fire company or the emergency medical service organization of which such a fireman or technician is a member is located.
(f) Any volunteer fire company or emergency medical service organization may request the municipality where such company or organization is located to enact the provisions of this section. Such a request shall be made to the chief executive officer of the municipality and shall be considered by the legislative body.
(P.A. 89-379, S. 1; P.A. 96-180, S. 6, 166; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-8, S. 86, 88.)
History: P.A. 96-180 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting reference to Subsec. (e) of Sec. 19a-175, effective June 3, 1996; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-8 amended Subsec. (e) by deleting references to Secs. 19a-191 and 19a-192, effective July 1, 1997.

[MeasterBFD]

Originally posted by Adze39
Here's the closest statute I found:

Too bad I do not work in town. So if I am late because I respond to a call on my way to work and I am late because of it I am out of luck? I am not going to drive right by a call except maybe if it is an alarm malfunction. Even with the law you know they will find another reason to fire you.
I think that law needs to be revised who is with me.

Also in case you are wondering I am from Newtown and am a member of The United Fire Company Of Botsford.

[Adze39]

Did you try to kindly explain the situation to your boss? I don't know what you do for work, but maybe if you are late, you can make it up at the end of the day?

[kghemtp]

I agree with Adze39 about talking to your employer, not with any righteousness about being special because you're an EMT or firefighter, but that you volunteer after work hours and could come into a situation where your services will be helpful yet you know work begins at 8. There's a higher calling we answer to than the typical 9-5 boss, but generally if you can explore options with your boss (presenting your situation & asking for input toward the solution), you'll keep a good relationship with the higher ups. Take care, and good luck!


~Kevin

[MeasterBFD]

Originally posted by Adze39
Did you try to kindly explain the situation to your boss? I don't know what you do for work, but maybe if you are late, you can make it up at the end of the day?

They hate when I am one minute late. Instead of a timeclock we sign in to a phone system. I will mention it to him however I don't think he will understand.