MONTHLY FIRE SERVICE & EMS HIRING ADVICE
This month we will be talking about "Bad Choices" which most people would never think twice about. I am speaking of Tattoos, Body Art, Piercing, excessive drinking and smoking.
Recently Municipal, City, State and Private Fire Departments have been posting the following information much more frequently as requirements:
"
Department policy does not allow tattoos, body piercing, or branding to be visible while in uniform or at anytime when the employee is identifiable as a member of the department. Candidates must be smoke free for at least one year prior to employment. Final candidates will be required to pass medical, psychological and polygraph examinations prior to hire. Will be required to pass a pre-employment drug screen and will be subject to random drug testing".
In the past departments were much more lenient then they are now! Of particular interest is the part pertaining to tattoos, body piercing, or branding when it says, " or at anytime when the employee is identifiable as a member of the department". This may mean while off duty wearing a company shirt, hat or sweatshirt, while in public or around people which recognize you as part of the department.
As for the smoking restriction, if your attitude is they will never know, you may want to think twice! If they don't catch you during your medical exam, psychological or polygraph examination, be aware all it takes is a disgruntled person, someone from the public or fellow employee to witness you and your career will be over, maybe before it even gets started.
So next time you feel the urge to be trendy or part of the in crowd think twice about your future and what is really important to you.
