County Hikes Pay 33%, Starts 12-Hour Shifts

There have been no complaints from Blair County (Penn.) 911 dispatchers after the county switched to 12-hour shifts, because besides now having some weekends off, the county raised their pay from 30 to 35 percent, and there is less mandatory overtime. The county also sees the huge pay increase as a “win,” since it will greatly reduce overtime pay, and help begin to retain the constant flow of veteran dispatchers resigning and new dispatchers being trained. In fact, 911 center director Mark Taylor aid just four dispatchers remain of the team of 34 that existed in 2007. He said the turnover created an expense of at least $217,500 in training that was wasted. The turnover also created vacancies that had to be filled with overtime, and stressed the dispatchers who had to work that overtime. Read more about the staffing situation, how the pay hike was justified, and the dispatchers’ reactions here.