Recruitment, retention and resignation among Non-Career Firefighters

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide a review of literature about recruitment, retention and resignation among non-career firefighters.Design/methodology/approachA systematic review was conducted to identify factors associated with the recruitment, retention and resignation of non-career firefighters. The authors divided the results into three topics and four levels for further analysis.Findings27 articles are included in the review. Most research addresses retention at an organizational level and indicates a link between job satisfaction and factors such as supervisor support, recognition and close relationships within the workgroup. Further, a recurring reason that contributes to resignations seems to be family related (e.g. partner disapproval).Research limitations/implicationsThere is a lack of European and Asian research into non-career firefighters. The included research papers generally have low response rates and the sample is often mostly male and Caucasians from a limited area.Practical implicationsThe identified factors offer deeper understanding and can help practitioners in their pursuit of the sustainable retention of non-career firefighters.Originality/valueBecause securing adequate numbers of non-career firefighters is important, there is a need to synthesize current evidence to identify and further understand which factors contribute to retention. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first systematic review to synthesize such evidence about non-career firefighters.

Serving the community while balancing multiple responsibilities – experiences of working as a paid part-time firefighter

“…Further, the study's findings show that feelings of never being good enough can arise, along with feelings of time restraints, since additional training can be a challenge for PTFs. Other studies show that too much or unsatisfactory training can be a trigger for resignations among non-career firefighters (McLennan et al, 2009;Malinen and Mankkinen, 2018;Lantz and Runefors, 2021). FRSs should facilitate flexibility regarding training and evaluate the efficiency of training.…”

“…Other studies show that too much or unsatisfactory training can be a trigger for resignations among non-career firefighters (McLennan et al. , 2009; Malinen and Mankkinen, 2018; Lantz and Runefors, 2021). FRSs should facilitate flexibility regarding training and evaluate the efficiency of training.…”

“…An inability to recruit and retain non-career firefighters makes it difficult for fire and rescue services (FRSs) to meet their community protection responsibilities. A literature review in the field by Lantz and Runefors (2021) describe factors contributing to motivation and challenges non-career firefighters experience. The majority of included studies in this review refer to volunteer firefighters.…”

“…Since the mission of FRSs is ultimately to save lives, environment and property, knowledge that helps facilitate PTFs in rural areas is important. The literature review by Lantz and Runefors (2021) conveys that the majority of existing research addresses volunteer firefighters and mainly from the contexts of Australia or USA Consequently, there is a lack of knowledge about PTFs. To improve retention, it is vital to understand their work situation: what motivates them, what barriers they face, and how those challenges influence their experiences.…”

Leading Volunteer Motivation: How Leader Behaviour can Trigger and Fulfil Volunteers’ Motivations

“…One way is to unpick volunteer motivation, which is fundamental for attracting and retaining volunteers. Another way is to ensure that volunteers do not stop volunteering due to issues that could have been prevented by volunteer-involving organisations, such as poor leadership (Lantz & Runefors, 2020). When it comes to motivating and retaining members, there is a raft of research that highlights the essential role of leadership in the paid employment context (Cheong et al, 2019;Kaiser et al, 2008;Naile & Selesho, 2014;Tse et al, 2013).…”