Annual Shift Scheduling Review (Details)

Name of province/ territory:

Ontario

City/ Region:

Ontario

Description of Initiative:

In 2013, a province-wide annual review process was initiated for shift scheduling in the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP). A provincial shift scheduling committee was established, inclusive of the Ontario Provincial Police Association (OPPA). The results of the current review are included in an annual report, which was completed in the summer of 2014.

Initiative Key Objectives:

The purpose of the review is to:

  • maximize limited police resource allocation/deployment while ensuring officer and public safety and meeting call-for-service demands;
  • enhance shift scheduling processes in order to implement a standardized, consistent and mandated approach supported by OPP policies and in accordance with OPPA collective bargaining agreements;
  • formalize a provincial shift scheduling committee to support ongoing shift scheduling activity within the OPP;
  • enhance fiscal accountability; and
  • enhance the ability to provide proactive policing strategies.

Section Responsible for Implementation:

Field Operations

Key Contact:

Gary Couture
Gary.Couture@ontario.ca

Groups/ Agencies/ Key Partners Involved:

  • police association or union

Level of Involvement (consultative - information sharing) and/or cooperative - direct involvement):

Consultative

Amount of Time Initiative has been in Place:

This initiative began in 2013, when a province-wide annual review process was initiated for shift scheduling in the OPP. Please contact for further information.

Reason for Undertaking the Initiative:

Among the goals of the shift scheduling review are the economic/fiscal goals of:

  • maximizing limited police resource allocation/deployment while ensuring officer and public safety; and
  • enhancing fiscal accountability, efficiency and effectiveness.

Resources Required to Implement this Initiative:

This initiative was undertaken using in-house personnel and did not entail any set-up costs outside existing budget allocations.

Method of Implementation:

A provincial shift scheduling committee was established, inclusive of the OPPA. Care was taken to respect the current collective agreement and the OPP shift scheduling manual. In addition, new data analysis tools were developed to facilitate the analysis of shift schedules for efficiency and effectiveness.

Key Outcomes of the Initiative:

Key outcomes of this initiative:

  • A review of the efficiency and effectiveness of OPP shift schedules will now be completed annually.
  • Data analysis tools now enable managers to complete detailed analysis of shift schedules in their detachments.
  • The OPP will be better positioned to demonstrate the fiscal accountability, efficiency and effectiveness of its shift scheduling practices.

Availability of a Communication Strategy:

Yes

Key Messages used to Publicize the Initiative:

Results of the annual shift scheduling review are communicated in an annual report. Communications will highlight steps taken to ensure the responsible stewardship of provincial resources, and to emphasize that maintaining officer and public safety is paramount.

Forms of Evaluation by which the Initiative will be Assessed:

  • internal
  • qualitative
  • quantitative

Evaluation Completed or Community Feedback Received:

No

Summary of the Outcomes:

Results of the 2013 province-wide shift scheduling review (including any evaluation outcomes) are communicated in an annual report, which was completed in the summer of 2014.

Summary of the Performance Measure Data Collected:

Data analysis tools, drawing from the OPP Daily Activity Reporting (DAR) system, enable managers to analyze the efficiency and effectiveness of shift schedules by examining officers' activities during specific periods of time.

Economics of Policing Pillars:

Further Details:

The OPP follows a shift scheduling manual developed jointly with the OPPA in 2000. The intent of the manual is to provide a consistent guideline that enables employees and managers to propose innovative and responsive shift schedules that addresses local community/detachment needs. The shift scheduling manual was negotiated by both management and the OPPA, and now comprises part of the collective agreement.

Additional Comments or Suggestions:

In 2000, the OPP, in partnership with the OPPA, implemented a shift scheduling manual with the intent of developing a consistent guideline that could be followed by both employees and managers to propose innovative and responsive shift schedules. The shift scheduling manual was negotiated by both management and the OPPA and forms part of the collective agreement. This tool was intended to allow for the development of an alternate shift schedule to address local community/detachment needs. As a result, the process by which schedules can be changed is entrenched in collective bargaining.

Numerous issues must be factored into a detachment shift schedule beyond calls for service demands, including injury and illness, secondment and temporary assignment opportunities, specialty team functions, major events and investigative complexities.

Record Entry Date:

2013-08-01

Date modified: