Clark County Fire Department leadership presented a proposal to pilot an alternate shift schedule intended to improve recruitment, reduce overtime and improve firefighter health. The proposed pattern described to the fiscal court was a repeating sequence of "1 day on, 3 days off, 2 days on, 3 days off," preserving the same total annual hours while clustering days off to allow longer restorative rest periods.
Why it matters: Presenters said clustered days off are associated with restorative sleep, reduced workers'comp claims and lower sick-time and vacation use, which could yield budget benefits without increasing total annual hours. The schedule is already in use in several other jurisdictions, and firefighters who participated in membership votes supported a trial.
Details: The chief explained that the change would not increase budgeted hours and that the department reviewed multiple schedules before picking the Portland-style pattern. Department leaders said the membership voted roughly 90% in favor of a six-month trial; the plan included a three-month check-in vote to stop or continue the trial and a final six-month vote to adopt the schedule permanently if the membership remained satisfied. Start date indicated: the shift transition was planned to begin with the pay period starting Sept. 28, so crews could align the roster and calendars.
Concerns and limits: Officials acknowledged trade-offs: some personnel are wary of consecutive 48-hour stints used by other schedules, and the department said a 48-hour block would be rare under the proposed sequence. Chief and staff warned that scheduling could complicate backfilling and overtime calculations when staffing drops below minimum levels; they said staffing minimums and overtime procedures would remain in place.
Outcome/direction: The court heard the proposal, asked questions about overtime and staffing, and members expressed support for a short trial and further staff follow-up. Presenters said they would implement a six-month trial beginning Sept. 28, with a three-month in-trial vote to gauge acceptance.
Note: The meeting record shows the chief's presentation and court discussion but does not record a formal recorded vote adopting the schedule as a permanent change; officials described the plan as a trial and requested the court's support to proceed.