Alert Status

7.14 Standby and Alert Status. When the Sheriff or their duly authorized representatives specifically direct an employee to standby at a specific location (i.e., stay at such location without moving to another location); time spent in such standby assignments shall be considered time worked and compensated for as provided for by applicable provisions of this agreement. When the Sheriff or their duly authorized representatives specifically direct an employee to keep the dispatcher or other designated officer informed of their location while off duty for a specific period of time; such time shall be considered being in alert status and not be considered time worked.

1) You do not have to sit by the phone and immediately answer phone calls from the department.

2) You do not have to keep checking your messages, or your work email.

3) If you get a message from the department you should return it within a reasonable amount of time.

4) You are required to be able to report to work for your next regularly scheduled shift. In other words be sober and ready to report whenever your next regular shift is scheduled.

5) You do not need to provide the department with an alternate phone number.

6) You do have to report EVERY change in your location.

If you can help out with filling overtime please do so but don't feel like you can't live your life because you are on Alert status.

For some further clarification:

On #3 above I say “if” you receive a message. Note you are not required to check your messages so if you don’t. ”receive” the message you don’t have to call back. What I mean by this is if you check your messages and you get one from the department you should call back. In todays day and age the digital record that is created is scary. Don’t assume that they won’t be able to tell whether or not you got a message. If you get one and don’t call back you do so at your own risk.

Also, you do NOT need to make accommodations to be able to come into work if called. If you can great but you don’t have to. You are not being paid so it is your time to do with as you see fit. Within the bounds of the law of course. Just make sure you can be at your next scheduled shift sober. We’ve had people who thought they’d get drunk so they didn’t have to come in early then showed up to work with a positive PBT (That will result in discipline). Other have then called in sick because they were drunk or hung over same thing DIS. I’m not saying you can’t drink just do it in a way that won’t prevent you from being there for your next shift.

You can go out of town too. Same explanation as the one for drinking just make sure you are back on time for your next shift.

Lastly if a supervisor shows up at your door and orders you into work you have to come in. That is unless you are unable to (See drinking above)

Don’t take this to mean I am telling you to get drunk so you don’t have to come into work. What I’m trying to eliminate is someone having a drink or two (which they are allowed to do) and then try to drive to work at 3 am get into a crash and try and blame the department or supervisor for ordering them. Be smart if you are not sober don’t come into work. Also I would not recommend slamming a cocktail when you get the call just so you have an excuse not to come in. I’m not saying it’s illegal or a violation of policy but it’s probably not a smart play and I can’t tell you to do it.

I can’t think if anything else but please if you have questions contact a board member.

Thanks