MONROE - The Wisconsin Senate passed a bill Tuesday protecting volunteer emergency personnel who are late or absent from work because they are responding to an emergency.
But several Green County Fire and EMT chiefs said they have no problems with local employers allowing their crew members time off, even in the middle of the work day.
"By and large, employers are very supportive of our volunteers," said a spokesman for the Monroe Fire Department. "But a little legislative support wouldn't hurt."
Senate Bill 308 amends Wisconsin Employment Law to require that an employer permit an employee who is a volunteer fire fighter, emergency medical technician, first responder, or ambulance driver for a volunteer fire department or fire company, a public agency, or a nonprofit corporation to be late for or absent from work if the lateness or absence is due to responding to an emergency that begins before the employee is required to report to work.
"We're pretty fortunate," said Green County EMS Chief Dan Nufer. "For us, we have a pretty good group of employers who allow people to get away. Swiss Colony, in particular, is just wonderful."
Nufer said the City of Monroe also lets its workers, many of whom are in public works jobs, respond to second alerts, if they are not tied up. City workers are not paid their city wages for the hours they are on emergency calls.
Brodhead Fire Chief Jay Bohan said he is appreciative of employers who are letting people go on emergency calls.
"Kuhn North America used to let their people go, but now it's just salaried ones. But that gives me three more during the day," he said.
Bohan isn't as worried about emergencies at night, when people are at home.
"I worry during the day," he said. Bohan said many residents are employed outside the city.
Lately, with the depressed economy, people who are laid off are responding for the daytime calls.
"Generally, we can get seven to 10 people. That's exciting," he said.
In New Glarus, EMT Director Kristie Mueller said her people are having no problems getting off work.
"Everyone's good in town," she said. "A few of our people that respond from work may be out the entire day."
New Glarus EMS gets about 15 to 20 calls a month.
Current law requires an employer to grant an employee a leave of absence from employment without pay for certain purposes, including to vote, serve as an election official, serve on a jury, and testify in a criminal proceeding.
The new amendment requires employees to notify their employer of their emergency volunteer status within 30 days of becoming a volunteer. They must also make every effort to notify their employers that they may be late for or absent from work due to responding to an emergency.
The bill prohibits an employer from interfering with, restraining, or denying the volunteer personnel from exercise of the right to respond to an emergency. The bill also prohibits an employer from discharging or discriminating against such an employee in promotion, in compensation, or in the terms, conditions, or privileges of employment.
The employee is not entitled to receive wages or salary for the time he is absent from work due to responding to an emergency as provided in this subsection.
Wisconsin has an estimated 21,000 volunteer firefighters and emergency medical technicians.
The Wisconsin Department of Administration, Division of Executive Budget and Finance, estimates it will receive no more than two complaints per year concerning potential violations of the Fair Employment Law based on discrimination against these volunteers.
But several Green County Fire and EMT chiefs said they have no problems with local employers allowing their crew members time off, even in the middle of the work day.
"By and large, employers are very supportive of our volunteers," said a spokesman for the Monroe Fire Department. "But a little legislative support wouldn't hurt."
Senate Bill 308 amends Wisconsin Employment Law to require that an employer permit an employee who is a volunteer fire fighter, emergency medical technician, first responder, or ambulance driver for a volunteer fire department or fire company, a public agency, or a nonprofit corporation to be late for or absent from work if the lateness or absence is due to responding to an emergency that begins before the employee is required to report to work.
"We're pretty fortunate," said Green County EMS Chief Dan Nufer. "For us, we have a pretty good group of employers who allow people to get away. Swiss Colony, in particular, is just wonderful."
Nufer said the City of Monroe also lets its workers, many of whom are in public works jobs, respond to second alerts, if they are not tied up. City workers are not paid their city wages for the hours they are on emergency calls.
Brodhead Fire Chief Jay Bohan said he is appreciative of employers who are letting people go on emergency calls.
"Kuhn North America used to let their people go, but now it's just salaried ones. But that gives me three more during the day," he said.
Bohan isn't as worried about emergencies at night, when people are at home.
"I worry during the day," he said. Bohan said many residents are employed outside the city.
Lately, with the depressed economy, people who are laid off are responding for the daytime calls.
"Generally, we can get seven to 10 people. That's exciting," he said.
In New Glarus, EMT Director Kristie Mueller said her people are having no problems getting off work.
"Everyone's good in town," she said. "A few of our people that respond from work may be out the entire day."
New Glarus EMS gets about 15 to 20 calls a month.
Current law requires an employer to grant an employee a leave of absence from employment without pay for certain purposes, including to vote, serve as an election official, serve on a jury, and testify in a criminal proceeding.
The new amendment requires employees to notify their employer of their emergency volunteer status within 30 days of becoming a volunteer. They must also make every effort to notify their employers that they may be late for or absent from work due to responding to an emergency.
The bill prohibits an employer from interfering with, restraining, or denying the volunteer personnel from exercise of the right to respond to an emergency. The bill also prohibits an employer from discharging or discriminating against such an employee in promotion, in compensation, or in the terms, conditions, or privileges of employment.
The employee is not entitled to receive wages or salary for the time he is absent from work due to responding to an emergency as provided in this subsection.
Wisconsin has an estimated 21,000 volunteer firefighters and emergency medical technicians.
The Wisconsin Department of Administration, Division of Executive Budget and Finance, estimates it will receive no more than two complaints per year concerning potential violations of the Fair Employment Law based on discrimination against these volunteers.