Do I feel like this was inappropriate while on duty? Yes. Do I think city firefighters would call ICE? No. Is everyone entitled to their opinion and the right to vote for whoever they choose? Yes. However, it's probably best not to express these views while in a city uniform on duty. Should staff be formally disciplined? Not necessarily,…
Do I feel like this was inappropriate while on duty? Yes. Do I think city firefighters would call ICE? No. Is everyone entitled to their opinion and the right to vote for whoever they choose? Yes. However, it's probably best not to express these views while in a city uniform on duty. Should staff be formally disciplined? Not necessarily, but it would be appropriate to provide training on city policies and workplace expectations.
Another concern is the recruitment of future firefighters and paramedics, particularly women, minorities, or members of the LGBTQ+ community. Is this a department or city they’d want to work for? To take it further, consider the lakefront staff—will young staff feel comfortable working for the fire department? The lakefront staff is predominantly white; will this affect diversity efforts? What happens if an LGBTQ+ staff member has a workplace concern—can they trust the fire department to listen to them in a fair and objective manner?
Do I feel like this was inappropriate while on duty? Yes. Do I think city firefighters would call ICE? No. Is everyone entitled to their opinion and the right to vote for whoever they choose? Yes. However, it's probably best not to express these views while in a city uniform on duty. Should staff be formally disciplined? Not necessarily, but it would be appropriate to provide training on city policies and workplace expectations.
Another concern is the recruitment of future firefighters and paramedics, particularly women, minorities, or members of the LGBTQ+ community. Is this a department or city they’d want to work for? To take it further, consider the lakefront staff—will young staff feel comfortable working for the fire department? The lakefront staff is predominantly white; will this affect diversity efforts? What happens if an LGBTQ+ staff member has a workplace concern—can they trust the fire department to listen to them in a fair and objective manner?