SOP-SSD-21 Assignment of Dispatch OvertimeSupport Services Division
SOP-SSD-21
Date Issued:10/29/2020
SUBJECT: DISPATCH CENTER OVERTIME SIGN UP AND ASSIGNMENTS
PURPOSE AND SCOPE: To define voluntary and mandatory assignment of overtime as it pertains
to the Dispatch Unit.
PROCEDURE:
I. Monthly Overtime Sign-Ups
Monthly dispatch schedules are prepared eight weeks in advance. All overtime due to vacant shifts or
approved absences will be included in the schedule at that time.
1. The monthly overtime sign-ups will be released to Full-time dispatchers on the 30th of
each month after the Part-time dispatchers have signed for their shifts. Each dispatcher
has an assigned timeframe of 30 minutes to pick their shifts via Schedule Express on this
date, in order of their seniority.
a. Sign-ups will be limited to 4shifts during the initial sign-up period.
b. Full time dispatchers must limit their sign-ups to Required shifts initially, but
may sign up for a Preferred Staffing shift if it is adjacent to the Required shift.
2. At 0700 hrs on the 31st or 1st of each month, the remaining Required and Preferred
Staffing shifts will be opened for unrestricted sign-up.
II. Overtime Assignments
1. Any Required shift that remains unfilled after the sign-ups will be assigned by the
dispatch supervisor with a minimum of 72 hours’ notice.
a. Mandatory overtime will be assigned to cover Required hours of closed shifts,
seniority annual vacation leave, medical or extended leave, training or meetings
and immediate need absences. Mandatory overtime will not be assigned to cover
Comp time use.
b. Mandatory overtime will be filled first by shift extension, either early force in or
holdover, if possible.
c. Mandatory overtime assignments will take into consideration overtime already
worked by those eligible to be forced in, and with the preference to keep the
dispatcher aligned with their normal work hours.
d. A dispatcher may be required to fill a Required shift on their day off.
e. Once assigned, the dispatcher is responsible for finding a replacement if they are
unable to work the assigned shift for personal reasons.
f. The dispatch supervisor may move a dispatcher from a Preferred Staffing shift to
cover a Required shift, with at least 72 hours’ notice.
2. A mandatory overtime picker may be utilized to assign unscheduled overtime with less
than 72 hours’ notice, such as for sick calls when shift extension or voluntary coverage is
not available. The overtime picker will be reset at each shift rotation.