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Sni Valley Fire Protection District Policy Manual
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Problem Resolution
718 Problem Resolution
Effective Date:
Revision Date:
Sni Valley is committed to providing the best possible working conditions for its employees/volunteer members. Part of this commitment is encouraging an open and frank atmosphere in which any problem, complaint, suggestion, or question receives a timely response from Sni Valley supervisors and management.
Sni Valley strives to ensure fair and honest treatment of all employees/volunteer members. Supervisors, managers, employees and volunteer members are expected to treat each other with mutual respect. Employees/volunteer members are encouraged to offer positive and constructive criticism.
If employees/volunteer members disagree with established rules of conduct, policies, or practices, they can express their concern through the problem resolution procedure. No employee/volunteer member will be penalized, formally or informally, for voicing a complaint with Sni Valley in a reasonable, business-like manner, or for using the problem resolution procedure.
If a situation occurs when employees/volunteer members believe that a condition of employment or a decision affecting them is unjust or inequitable, they are encouraged to make use of the following steps. The employee/volunteer member may discontinue the procedure at any step.
1. The employee/volunteer member presents the problem to his/her immediate supervisor within 6 calendar days after incident occurs. If the supervisor is unavailable or the employee/volunteer member believes it would be inappropriate to contact that person, the employee/volunteer member may present problem to the Assistant Chief or, in his/her absence, the Fire Chief.
2. The immediate supervisor responds to problem during the discussion with the employee/volunteer member or within 6 calendar days, after consulting with appropriate management, when necessary. The supervisor shall document the discussion.
3. If, after the discussion between the supervisor and the employee/volunteer member, the problem remains unresolved, the employee/volunteer member shall present the problem to the Assistant Chief within 6 calendar days.
4. The Assistant Chief shall counsel and advise the employee/volunteer member, visit with employee's supervisor(s), if necessary, and direct the employee/volunteer member to the Fire Chief for a review of the problem.
5. The employee/volunteer member shall present the problem to the Fire Chief in writing. This presentation shall include: (A) a statement of the problem along with the attendant facts and evidence, (B) the specific violation of District policy, if any is claimed, and (C) the remedy being requested.
6. The Fire Chief shall review and consider the problem. The Fire Chief shall respond to the employee/volunteer member with his/her decision regarding the problem within 6 calendar days from the date the problem was presented, and shall forward a copy of the written response to the Assistant Chief for inclusion in the employee's/volunteer member's personnel file. The Fire Chief has full authority to make any adjustment deemed appropriate to resolve the problem.
7. Upon receipt of the Fire Chief's decision regarding the problem, the employee/volunteer member may request, in writing within 6 calendar days from the date of the Fire Chief's decision, to appeal the Fire Chief's decision to the Sni Valley Fire Protection District Board of Directors. At the next regularly scheduled Board of Directors meeting, the request for appeal shall be presented, along with all attendant facts and evidence regarding the problem and the previous decisions rendered. The Board of Directors shall consider the problem and render a decision regarding it within 30 calendar days. The decision of the Board of Directors shall be final.
Not every problem can be resolved to everyone's total satisfaction, but only through understanding and discussion of mutual problems can employees, volunteer members and management develop confidence in each other. This confidence is important to the operation of an efficient and harmonious work environment and helps to ensure security for everyone.
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