Applicable To: FOD employees

Approval Authority:  Deputy Chief P. N. Andresen

Signature:  Signed by PNA

Date Signed:  8/28/08

1.               PURPOSE

The watch representative program is intended to improve communications within the Field Operations Division, particularly between managers and line employees.

2.               POLICY

The management of the Division is committed to hearing and acting on the concerns and suggestions of all employees.

3.               RESPONSIBILITIES

3.1              Nonsupervisory employees will select a representative from their watch and will share ideas, suggestions, and concerns with the representative for discussion during the meetings with section commanders.

3.2              Supervisors will support the Watch Representative Program by allowing time for the watch to elect a representative.   Supervisors will give the watch representative an opportunity to address the watch prior to and following the regular meeting with the Division Commander.

3.3              The Division Commander will meet, at least once a quarter with the watch representatives to discuss ideas, suggestions, and concerns. 

4.               ACTION

4.1              Election and Term of Service

4.1.1           Each watch will hold an election annually among the nonsupervisory employees to select a watch representative and an alternate.

4.1.2           The watch commander will forward the names of the representative and an alternate through the chain of command to the Division Commander.

4.1.3           Watch representatives will serve for one calendar year.   However, representatives elected to serve for part of 2008 may continue through 2009.

4.1.4           Watch representatives will not serve consecutive terms. However, the representative for one year may serve as the alternate for the next year if so elected.

4.2              Division-Level Meetings

4.2.1           The FOD commander will meet with watch representatives in a forum for the representatives to share ideas, suggestions, and concerns.

 

4.2.2           The FOD Administrative Office will advise the Section Commanders, supervisor, and watch representatives of the dates and times for the watch representatives meetings. There will be three separate meeting times in order to accommodate the different shifts of the watch representatives.

4.2.3           The Division Commander will distribute the report from the watch representatives meeting to the Section Commanders, supervisors, and watch representatives. This report will summarize the meeting, the topics that were covered, problems that were identified, solutions that were proposed, and decisions that were made.  

4.2.4           The reports from the watch representative form will be kept on file for three years.      

4.3              Coordination

4.3.1           Prior to each meeting, the watch representative will be given up to five minutes during roll call to obtain ideas, suggestions, and concerns to be discussed at the upcoming meeting.

4.3.2           Following each meeting, the watch representative will be given up to five minutes during roll call to brief the watch on the meeting.

4.               DEFINITIONS

                  Watch:  For the purposes of this procedure, a watch will include: each zone watch, airport watch, zone investigative unit; and each SOS unit or watch. 

5.               CANCELLATIONS

                  None

6.               REFERENCES

                  APD.SOP.1080, “Internal Communication”