Training of New Hires
As previously reported, Blogmaster sources indicate that a new class of pcoIIs will be commencing early next year, purportedly in January. While this is good news--any help to solve the staffing shortages is welcome--it also forces a host of unsettling issues back to the forefront, primarily the OJT that current pcos are expected to provide to the new hires and it begs the question of why those individuals assigned to the training division already on a full time basis are exempted from performing this "essential function".
Blogmaster is very familiar with management's standard position on this issue--that many of the training division employees also assume other duties (beat meetings, representation of OEMC at outside events, and providing pcad training to CPD among other things), but we don't buy it. Other "excuses" include administrative functions, class/materials prep, and other duties as needed. Blogmaster is more inclined to believe, cynically perhaps but not without good reason and precedent, that the OJT functions are handed off to working pcos primarily so that the M-F employees--who are all pcoIIs by the way--are not required to disrupt their lives by assuming inconvenient watch shifts, albeit if only for a period or so. Furthermore, Blogmaster has observed rather pessimistically, that most of the pcos in the training division haven't actually dispatched or taken calls for a very long time--YEARS in some cases. From a training perspective this sad reality poses some very real issues and impedes both the integrity and credibility of the entire training division. The lack of qualified OJT volunteers is one reflection of this phenomenon--with few exceptions, almost NO ONE, pcoI or II actually CHOOSES to do OJT. Even with additional compensation, for current pcos, its a no win situation. So why, Blogmaster repectfully asks, are we being forced to when its abundantly clear that the pcoIIs RESPONSIBLE and ACCOUNTABLE for training the new hires--the pcoIIs who WANT to be in the training division and who currently enjoy S/S rdos--appear to hand off the most crucial aspect of the entire training experience to those who have no interest, inclination, or ability to assume it? And can anyone, preferably a suit, please explain why this makes sense?
posted by CPDDispatch @ 12:00 AM
18 Comments:
i agree with you...the most crucial part of training is being passed off to some pcoII's that are not willingly doing it. it makes for a bad environment for the new hire and for the dispatcher who is forced to do it. the training staff should have to take on this responsibility especially because they are trained at training....and have been chosen as people who know how to do the job by the rules and they are supposed to be good at it to some extent. i remember training and thank God that i had 2 good trainers for dispatching ojt....but i have heard so many horror stories from people in my class and the new hires after me, it's pretty sad!
The problem with training is the only training you get is how to use the computer and what the commands are, you dont learn how to dispatch until OJT and then its usually too little too late. Prime example: the last dispatcher class that was passed thur, we all know how terrible they were and still are.
I don't work at 911 but I enjoy reading your blog and although I can only imagine what you guys go through being a city employee myself I can imagine any simple solution to your problem will never occur (we are talking about problems that upper management needs to fix right??). I can't explain why this makes sense but having over 15 years in call center experience and having worked at several different call centers from my experience this has always been the case. To be honest some of the trainers have never worked the type of position that they are actually training people for so not to sound crazy but you guys are doing good. Of course it would be logical for the trainers to see the trainees throughout the entire training process including ojt but i've never seen that happen. The reason that they applied for the position was to get off the phones and I'm only assuming that everyone had the "same opportunity" to apply although I realize in your environment there may be a lot of other elements aside from qualifications that may get a person a certain position.
Usually in the down time trainers are give "busy work" that management don't enjoy doing or other various duties throughout the organization. Before I make the next comment I want to say I mean this in a very respectful way and I don't intend to be a smart a$$. We as city employees are paid a decent salary( a salary that a lot of us couldn't get without an advanced degree) yet we are over worked at times and in 911 case you guys are over worked very often. Sometimes we forget how eager we were when we first started working and would have done a lot of the things that we now often complain about with no problem and that we all have options. I myself have some of the problems in my dept not as much as you guys because I do hear the stories about what goes on over there but I enjoy my job yes it's full of stress and a bunch of bull$#!t rules and things handed down from the big bosses that makes no sense whatsoever but twice a month I get my paycheck. I get to pay my bills and have lots leftover. I may be getting off topic but all I'm trying to say here it this .... it's a job just do it and don't complain too much if you fill unjust take it up with your union or mgmnt if you can't resolve the problem and you're still unhappy leave very simple. Again I don't work over there so I only assume when I make this statement so please correct me if i'm missing something. From what I see in the reports you guys are compensated very well and many of you make more than management including overtime which means that you have to love something in order to stay extra hours to perform it (or you love money or have many bills).
above person posted regarding people in the traning staff:
"The reason that they applied for the position was to get off the phones and I'm only assuming that everyone had the "same opportunity" to apply "
same opportunity? Yes, on paper. Reality? It came down to favortism.
All this crying about OJT. What crap. For those of us that started when it was still the CPD, we didn't have ANY OJT. Classroom, some simulation on a dummy board and then fed to the wolves....that was it. I can still remember some POs and call takers (who, by the way, still work here) refusing to work with "civilians". For those that don't want to do OJT, grow a pair, refuse to do it, and take your lumps. I'm not a huge fan of the OJT process, but we all are going to end up working with these people and should do whatever we can to help them out so when it hits the fan on the zone, they can offer some help. I think too many of us have forgotten what it was like to be new. As far as the Training Staff doing OJT, I have no idea what other responsibilitlies they have, but if they are able to do so, then why not. But if they take a trainee on the floor, are they going to be able to work OT????
Same is true in the districts. I think our district has 3 real FTO's total. 6 new recruits come to district. Who gets them? People who don't want them. As with most things, better pay might make some want to train, but for the $6 a day, forget it.
I disagree with the comment on the last class of pc02 being poor. This is a very difficult job to learn from scratch. I believe majority of the last class is right on board where they should be at this time. Naturally we have one or two problem babies, but that is par for the course with all classes. Give the new kids a chance and keep loud, rude comments to yourselves, it demoralizes and berates your coworker and we have enough of that already on the ops floor courtesy of the fourth floor. We don't need to be doing that to one another, it's contract time, we need to be strong and united.
Merry Christmas
I wonder when I will get a call for an interview. I have passed all parts of testing process(mass testing in may and typing test....waiting to hear.
go figure, they had my wrong address,i got the letter for the next phase, the background check. now have to fill out the background packet 10-12 pages......wish me luck
good luck kid, are u SURE you want to work at OEMC?
I just received my background check packet and was wondering what the next stages are and usually how long it will take. Thanks
I dont even remember getting a "Background check packet" It's been so long. Cant really help you out on that, but knowing the City I'm sure they'll drag their feet for months.
Well, when I applied (2005) I really wanted to do it. I'm still excited. Lol. I wanted to get back into law enforcement without being an officer. SO hope I continue on through the process until final hire.
I've been with the city for 8 yrs and these are the most pre employment hoops I've had to go through. Even when I was a police aide, I didnt have to go through all of that.
Can someone tell me why is that I am qualfied as a OEMC dispatcher, but not as a Poilce Dispatcher? All my experience is working as a Police Dispatcher.
Because there are no Police Dispatchers anymore. The title was done away with with the arbitrators ruling 16 years ago.
16 years ago?? That doesnt sound right. When the OEMC opened, it was actually just the OEC (OR even referred to as the CECC - Chicago Emergency Communications Center) That was back in 1995, and everyone who worked there, worked for the City under the "Police Department",..... that lasted for several years. The OEMC dept wasnt created til about 2000? 2001? something like that? I could be mistaken, but I dont see how we could be referred to as "OEMC Dispatchers" for the last 16 years, if the "OEMC" didnt even exist in 1992.
Yes, the CECC was opened in 1995, however, the FOP sold out the police disptacher prior to the facility opening up. The union gave up the police jobs and allowed the police dispatchers to be replaced with civilian employees and the police dispatchers were all stripped of their appointed rank and became police officers again while still carrying their D2 pay.
I don't think anyone has a true picture of just what the Training Dept. does. They are not just responsible for training incoming calltakers & dispatchers. They train all incoming OEMC employees and do classes for all CPD recruits and any CPD member who is promoted. They also do beat meetings, etc, in the evening and a myriad of other tasks ( I assure you the list is long). Sure, there is down time, but, isn't there down time on the ops floor? There are many people who have time to read books, newspapers, take multiple personals, and make cellular calls & watch dvds at their consoles. There's too much finger pointing and complaining. Who even applied to go to the Training Dept.? Favoritism for who? Also, more people sign up to be OJT trainers than you think.
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