Milton’s firefighting squad is gearing up for a major overhaul of their work schedules, one that promises a significant uptick in their quality of life. In a move set to position the department as an even more appealing employer, firefighters will soon embrace a 1-3; 2-3 work pattern, a stark contrast to their current 24 hours on, 48 hours off routine, as reported by the City of Milton’s official website.
Commencing in October, this initiative will allow firefighters to spend one full day at work, followed by three days of rest, then return for a two-day stretch before embarking on another three-day hiatus; this setup is designed not only to enhance leisure and recuperation but also to lessen the frequency of shift exchanges and commuting journeys to the station, offering 41 additional mornings with loved ones and 39 fewer treks to the firehouse every year, providing them more quality time to penetrate the veils of everyday life, to foster relationships and to bask in the commonplace joys that a staggered workweek often obscures.
The benefits touted for this new schedule are manifold, ranging from prolonged periods with family and friends, more opportunities for pursuing education or holding down a second job, to the potential for picking up overtime shifts given the irregular gaps between workdays. “Milton Fire-Rescue is a department that values our firefighters’ health, their work-life balance, and putting them in the best possible position to thrive on and off the job,” Deputy Fire Chief Richard Bushman told the City of Milton’s website. “This new innovative scheduling approach helps in all those respects, while also serving the best interests of our department and the City as a whole.”…