Rethinking Mandatory Overtime: A Predictive Approach to Fire Department Staffing
Mandatory overtime is one of the most frustrating staffing challenges in the fire service, but many of the highest risk days are not random. Holidays, weekends, seasonal leave patterns, and historical vacancy trends often reveal when staffing pressure is likely to increase. This post explores a predictive staffing incentive model that uses historical data to identify high risk shifts and offers temporary premium pay before the shortage becomes a mandatory holdover.
