5 Pillars of a Successful Secondary Employment Program
Law enforcement officers working secondary employment or off duty details is a concept that has been around for years.
However, agencies across the country have many different ways in which they manage those programs. In today’s culture of policing, management and oversight of your agency’s secondary employment program is critical.
At PowerDetails, we understand the importance of an effective program and believe there are 5 pillars of any successful secondary employment program.
1. Policy Enforcement
Law enforcement agencies understand the importance of clearly written policies and most agencies also understand the importance of establishing rules surrounding secondary employment.
However, not all agencies are effective at enforcing those policies. Many leave it to the officers on the honor system or to the supervisors to handle on a squad or first line supervisory level. These methodologies lack consistency and increase an agency’s level of risk.
In addition, as agencies increase their focus on officer wellness, ensuring officers are well rested for their primary duty shifts should be a major consideration. Policy enforcement can also help to ensure officers are accountable for showing up to secondary employment jobs thereby increasing the satisfaction amongst employers and the local business community as a whole.
PowerDetails assists with policy enforcement through the utilization of agency rules to limit the jobs officers can automatically sign up for. For example, if an officer has already met their maximum allowance of hours worked, the system will not allow them to sign up for any additional jobs, unless overridden by a supervisor or program administrator, as permitted by the agency.
2. Efficient Communication
Staffing shortages in policing is an issue at the forefront of law enforcement across the country.
Therefore, agencies need to think strategically about their resource allocation and maximize efficiencies whenever possible. Secondary employment programs can be labor intensive, but they don’t have to be.
If your secondary employment program coordinator carries a large book with a list of all the jobs and who is working them, your agency has an efficiency problem.
If your agency’s coordinator has to make multiple phone calls to fill a job when it becomes or remains unfilled, then you have an efficiency problem.
PowerDetails understands that many agency secondary employment coordinators wear multiple hats within the agency. Through the use of the PowerDetails platform, your agency can reduce the amount of time your coordinator is spending managing your program, increase efficiencies, and reduce single points of failure.
The PowerDetails platform utilizes automation tools to make email or text notifications to the coordinator and employer when there are last minute changes to scheduled details. When an officer is assigned to a job or detail, and needs to cancel due to illness or other conflict, PowerDetails can be programmed to send a notification to other officers interested in and/or available to work the job. When filled, notifications are then sent to the canceling officer, the coordinator and the employer so everyone knows the job has been filled and who will be working the job.
3. Fair Distribution
The PowerDetails platform will satisfy agency requirements and policies as well as many labor union agreements surrounding fair distribution of details.
The platform is customizable and can distribute details based on seniority, first come first serve, or based on hours worked. Additionally, PowerDetails can distribute jobs to specific personnel if the job requires particular skills or certifications increasing your agency’s ability to serve the needs of the businesses in your community.
4. Payment Processing
PowerDetails also makes it easy to invoice and receive payments from vendors/employers as well as pay your officers accurately and timely.
As soon as an officer completes a detail, they can submit their hours from their mobile device. There is no need for the coordinator to wait until the officer turns in a slip; once the hours are logged and the job completed, the employer can be automatically invoiced from the PowerDetails platform. Furthermore, the platform ensures accurate pay rates and accounts for any equipment fees based on the needs of the vendor allowing the agency to accurately invoice for payment.
Payment processing is easy with PowerDetails through the use of APIs. PowerDetails has already established APIs with several on duty scheduling platforms for easy and secure transfer of on duty scheduling information into the PowerDetails platform. This allows agencies to have confidence in the member pay rate and member status (including agency separations and promotions) information. Established APIs with agency or jurisdiction payroll systems also ensure the timely and accurate payment to officers. Also note, PowerDetails is capable of utilizing CSV files or other data exchange options if the agency desires.
Vendors or employers can pay the agency through electronic payment options including ACH or via credit card. This means transactions are cash free and are trackable which creates additional transparency for your agency. Utilizing PowerDetails reporting options your agency can create reports on outstanding payments, as well as establish an operational picture of your agency’s most active customers.
5. Accurate Reporting
PowerDetails has over 50 reporting options with the ability to customize additional reports for your agency if desired.
With PowerDetails reports, accountability is streamlined through the sharing of information with agency administrators. This makes it easier to identify misconduct and problem employees and increases transparency within your agency, reduce overall liability. PowerDetails reporting options provide information to the agency command staff and administrators who need it most to ensure policies are enforced.
PowerDetails understands the needs of your agency and wants to help you implement a program to manage the extra duty details in a way that is efficient, accurate and fair.
To learn more about how PowerDetails help you address accountability issues surrounding extra duty employment or to get a live personalized demonstration, please contact us.
You can also watch an online demo, at any time, by clicking here.
Are you ready to streamline your Extra-Duty Details?
