Tuesday evening, thirty-six new structures, public and private, received the employer label from Sdis de l'Aveyron. For the provision of employees who are also volunteer firefighters. There are 190 of them in the department.
This year, thirty-six new employers signed a partnership agreement with the Sdis de l'Aveyron for the provision of volunteer firefighters whom they employ. A record. Thus bringing to 190 the number of public or private structures in Aveyron which have signed agreements. This concerns 300 firefighters, or 20% of the workforce.
In a rural and vast department like Aveyron, where 92% of its 1,450 firefighters are volunteers, it is an understatement to say that the role of employers can be preponderant. This was demonstrated again on Tuesday evening, during a unique ceremony for awarding employer labels. A ceremony intended to highlight these structures while appealing to others. “For us, the commitment of these employers is essential. If they did not play the game of making them available, we would sometimes have difficulty in engaging emergency services.“, explains Captain Florence Marie, in charge of this volunteering.
“No more stomach upset”
Several national provisions, financial or administrative, promote employer commitment. For which it remains to be clearly determined the conditions of availability of the firefighter employee, whether for training or interventions. “Since the establishment of the “Firefighter Employer-Partner” label, awarded for the first time in 2012 and extended to public authorities in 2018, the Aveyron SDIS has, in the past, awarded this distinction to 50 employers. This label, awarded by the Prefect of Aveyron for a period of three years, testifies to the recognition of the State towards companies and communities which commit to an agreement authorizing their SPV employees to have at least 8 days annual work absences for their civic commitmentn”, summarizes the Sdis of Aveyron.
Tuesday evening, it was easy to measure the “win-win” ticket of this system. “With this agreement, there is no feeling of feeling upset when going on an intervention or to be on time at the workplace, it is organized” explains a firefighter. A structure manager explains for his part: “the presence of a firefighter in our teams also makes it possible to train employees in first aidrs”. The volunteer firefighter only has one more training module to complete to become a trainer within his company. Another company manager explained having taken the plunge after Covid. “It was a flash, I said to myself, we have to do something in this direction and we are proud of this effort“. An effort which, for structures, can also be part of a CSR approach.
Mutual trust too
Likewise ; structures which have the particularity of being represented in various places in the territory know that they can have a role to play. “We make our teams aware of this form of commitment“, breathes the president of the ADMR, alongside an employee who is also a nurse coordinator for the firefighters. But for most of the managers or representatives of the “employer” college, it is a question of citizenship and mutual trust with the volunteer firefighter.
A craftsman from southern Aveyron, who was himself a volunteer firefighter, and who has two volunteer firefighters within his small business, explains as follows: “In some cases, it is necessary to put things into perspective. With us, there are few daily interventions. And I think we can give a little of our time“. “We must not forget that we are very happy to be able to call on the firefighters“, slips another employer.
Ways of seeing which seem to be gaining ground in the department, each of the 40 rescue centers having at least one approved firefighter. Tuesday evening, Colonel Lecoq, the prefect of Aveyron Charles Giusti and the president of the departmental council, Arnaud Viala, also president of the board of directors of Sdis, personally ensured the delivery of these labels. Above all, with one word on his lips: “merci“.
Interest for an employer
For an employer, the advantages of agreeing are of several types. On the one hand, with a volunteer firefighter in its ranks, the employer effectively has a prevention and safety agent, an experienced first aider, etc.
This also allows the employer to benefit from advantages on fire insurance, to receive compensation and tax reductions. All within well-defined measures of course. This can also be included in professional training plans.
This label can also be used as a communication support, particularly in terms of recruitment. In any case, it is seen as enhancing the company.
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