Let me preface by saying that I worked for a private ambulance service for 3 years prior to working at this company. I have now vowed never to work for another private ambulance service in the future. It is NOT the job itself, but the COMPANIES (supervisors/management, and the way they treat their employees) that make them so miserable to work for. I have to say, Rural/Metro really did nothing to change my view that private ambulance services are the absolute scum of EMS culture.
I was hired as a part-time employee with the understanding that, as I was extremely straight-forward in letting them know I had a hectic schedule, I would work when I could and only when I could. From the very start management and supervisors were extremely pushy in trying to get me to pick up shifts.
The unprofessional manner in which they did so was probably the worst part. Sending group text messages to a number of employees and practically begging like a child for someone to pick up a shift, threatening part-timers that they need to work 4 shifts a month ("We prefer 8 or more."), or risk being cut from employment.
When it did finally roll around to where my schedule was open, I had several shift requests denied, then finally had three approved in the same week. That week also happened to be one where a snow storm came through, leaving me stranded at home and unable to go to work (in good weather it was an hour drive). The storm was so bad that the government declared a state of emergency. A supervisor sent out a text asking anyone who would not be making it to work to please let them know; one person replied asking if it would be counted against them (as their apartment complex hadn't been plowed and local roads were impassable), and the supervisor's reply was "Get in sissy boy".
After missing two days due to weather, I received a personal text from a supervisor saying "If u plan on calling in again tomorrow can u go ahead n do it now so I can figure out the schedule". I heartily thanked them for their concern about my safety and said I thought I would be able to make it to work safely the next day.
The next day arrived, and I went to start my car for my extended commute, and what would you know? It wouldn't start. I had a weak battery that had been sucked dry from the frigid weather. I went ahead and texted the supervisor (I thought texting would be ok, as that seemed to be the only way they could communicate) telling them I seemed to have a weak battery and may not make it to work, but I was working on warming the battery up so that I could start my car. The supervisor's immediate reply was "Company policy is to notify us 90 minutes before shift if calling off and not to text but call supervisor and dispatch."
At that moment, I wondered if it were also company policy to communicate only through text message any other time, or to be disrespectful, rude, and bullying towards employees (through text messages, of course), and I immediately decided I was no longer going to waste my time with such ludicrous behavior from this ridiculous company. They must have felt the same way, as several days later I received a letter from the operations manager in the mail stating that they "must separate" my employment with their "organization for" my "failure to maintain" my "part-time requirements." They asked me to return any and all Rural/Metro property (uniforms, pagers, jackets, etc.), none of which I ever received in the first place. I sang "Hallelujah!", as it was a blessing to no longer be affiliated with such an unprofessional ambulance service.
In short, don't ever work here.
