Making SAR Work Friendly?

[Duzzy]

I've been doing some searching through past threads on Search and Rescue and I found a lot on packs, kits, equipment, etc.

However, in the process I also ran into a decent amount of commentary on jobs not taking too kindly to people belonging to SAR groups due to missed work.

Next Tuesday I will be attending a "New Members Meeting" for a local Search and Rescue Group in Virginia. Assuming that things go well, and I'm accepted into the group for training, does anyone have any recommendations for how to best approach my work place about the subject?

Thank you for any help.

 

[numberthree]

I've been doing some searching through past threads on Search and Rescue and I found a lot on packs, kits, equipment, etc.

However, in the process I also ran into a decent amount of commentary on jobs not taking too kindly to people belonging to SAR groups due to missed work.

Next Tuesday I will be attending a "New Members Meeting" for a local Search and Rescue Group in Virginia. Assuming that things go well, and I'm accepted into the group for training, does anyone have any recommendations for how to best approach my work place about the subject?

Thank you for any help.

sounds like you need to make work SAR friendly.....

Best thing to do is be very up front and say that you are considering doing SAR as a community service, and ask how they'd feel about you occasionally having to leave for searches. Perhaps you could strike some sort of deal to allow you to make up missed time, or bank extra time to be used in the event that you miss work due to SAR duties. Mention that it would be a community service for them to allow you to do this....

 

[ROCK6]

sounds like you need to make work SAR friendly.....

Perhaps you could strike some sort of deal to allow you to make up missed time, or bank extra time to be used in the event that you miss work due to SAR duties. Mention that it would be a community service for them to allow you to do this....

Good advice...I'm active duty military and have done volunteer work part time for similar activities. I have several civilians working for me now and they can accrue compensation time as we don't pay overtime except for certain occasions. If you can work a deal where you'll work a little overtime to bank that as "comp time" for when you get called up, that would be a good method. I would let them know that SAR is just like volunteer fire fighting and EMT for the community. You may even be able to offer some volunteer training for your fellow employees...if you could get other volunteer professionals to assist with AED training, basic first aid and workplace safey...that may be a big plus for your employer.

ROCK6

 

[neeman]

Can't help

I was in a SAR unit in the Army.
On full time reserve callout, any call out I had from work was covered by the Army

 

[Dunner]

I think employers who have previous experience or have heard of others having experiences with employees using call outs as excuses to leave them and their colleagues hanging might have created the problem. I have the fact that I was a SAR volunteer for 5 years on my resume actually because many employers like to see people involved as volunteers. It shows that the individual is willing to make personal sacrifices for others and are generally not going to be considered, "Gimme!" types.

If talking to a manager or prospective employer simply emphasize that being a SAR volunteer is VOLUNTEER work and while your team might have response % criteria to stay accredited with the team it is not mandatory that you turn out right away or at all. Maybe the best you can do is respond six hours late after a shift or something. Putting your work first and showing integrity over time will make it a non-issue. A relationship where you could simply let your manager know what's happening (being sort of passive about it rather than pushing) and letting them make the call as to whether they can get by without you for a period of time would be cool. A lot of people like to be let in on the small bit of news you may be able to share from a call out page. If you can get them intrigued... all the better.

I had to miss some call outs as a volunteer. I felt bad about it but I tried to give the team what I could.

Get involved. It's hard work but fun. You will learn a lot and probably make some great friends. And besides... you have the PERFECT pack for it on the way