Retention in the public safety dive team

[Scubaguy610]

Hello, New remember to scuba board, but I’ve been following for a while. I am a Comander for our public safety and a paid EMS agency lately. We have been having some trouble with retention. A few of the members don’t agree with another one of the leaders in charge and the way that they operate. I’ve been trying to combat this with more inclusive training and hands-on one on one with a certain members, however I’m kind of at a standstill. Does anybody have any advice for some better retention efforts?

 

[lexvil]

Change the “leader”

 

[Scubaguy610]

That’s been my advise to our dive commander, unfortunately I think he is under the impression of “that’s the best I’ll get” type of attitude.

Change the “leader”

 

[lexvil]

That’s been my advise to our dive commander, unfortunately I think he is under the impression of “that’s the best I’ll get” type of attitude.

Then be a leader, put you complaint to paper and quit the “team” if all the workers quit the “commander” won’t have a team to ignore and may get a clue, most likely they would promote the problem in the classic “fail up” move but problem solved.

 

[Johnoly]

Does anybody have any advice for some better retention efforts?

Retention is always hard. Maybe suggest changing to a 1 on & 3 off. You'll cut overtime(overworked really) dramatically for a huge cost savings. Then guys will be looking up to you since you can provide more hours of training if they wish. Right now with just 2-off, they're probably burnt out. Many departments in Florida have moved to this scheduling change.

 

[Scubaguy610]

Retention is always hard. Maybe suggest changing to a 1 on & 3 off. You'll cut overtime(overworked really) dramatically for a huge cost savings. Then guys will be looking up to you since you can provide more hours of training if they wish. Right now with just 2-off, they're probably burnt out. Many departments in Florida have moved to this scheduling change.

I definitely think that has a lot to do with it is the burn out as well, not only with training but our cal outs we are relatively busy for our area.

 

[DrakeTheDiver]

I don't know your details, but the team I operate on allows us to fill tanks and also borrow tanks as needed to go diving, certainly a huge draw since we all enjoy diving outside of work. Additionally, the nearest shop that can fill is over an hour from us, in the wrong direction for diving, so this was a huge draw for me. Maybe try to offer those sorts of incentives, but ultimately no cheesy gimick is going to be worth it if the leader you have to deal with is a PITA. Maybe try to build up the camaraderie and morale within the guys, but again, everything will still fall apart if that leader can't change. Have you spoken at all with the problem guy, maybe there's a reason he operates that way, and what is the problem, is he unsafe, rude, disrespectful, is he unwilling to back up the team, or is it a situation where he hampers operations in the name of safety or unwillingness to allow divers to function?

 

[Scubaguy610]

I don't know your details, but the team I operate on allows us to fill tanks and also borrow tanks as needed to go diving, certainly a huge draw since we all enjoy diving outside of work. Additionally, the nearest shop that can fill is over an hour from us, in the wrong direction for diving, so this was a huge draw for me. Maybe try to offer those sorts of incentives, but ultimately no cheesy gimick is going to be worth it if the leader you have to deal with is a PITA. Maybe try to build up the camaraderie and morale within the guys, but again, everything will still fall apart if that leader can't change. Have you spoken at all with the problem guy, maybe there's a reason he operates that way, and what is the problem, is he unsafe, rude, disrespectful, is he unwilling to back up the team, or is it a situation where he hampers operations in the name of safety or unwillingness to allow divers to function?

That’s actually a nice idea to give the option to go and take tanks to rec dive. But as for the problem, I’ve spoken with him he just answers with “I’m over it” “I’m burnt out” but he is rude, disrespectful to other members, and when it comes to operations down right unsafe and going to kill one of our divers I am dreading the day I’m not on a call out or the commander and he’s in charge…

 

[Still Kicking]

That’s actually a nice idea to give the option to go and take tanks to rec dive. But as for the problem, I’ve spoken with him he just answers with “I’m over it” “I’m burnt out” but he is rude, disrespectful to other members, and when it comes to operations down right unsafe and going to kill one of our divers I am dreading the day I’m not on a call out or the commander and he’s in charge…

You know what you need to do. Document the issues and force a change.

 

[DrakeTheDiver]

You know what you need to do. Document the issues and force a change.

Yeah, if it’s a safety issue, then it needs to be documented and sent up the chain. Attitude can’t be disciplined out, but safety violations can. Let things play out with your command, but if it is a consistent serious offense and not a minor thing here or there, then you should push it as far as your able, and encourage your team to do the same. Safety is paramount, the job is already dangerous enough. If not and you feel that it is unsafe to have people dive under his command, encourage your guys to voice that opinion, if that is how they feel, and you should as well.