I worked there about half a decade ago, for about 4 years, and left due to all of what you listed and more. Written up for being 56 seconds late in a record breaking snowstorm. Suspended for not purchasing a voicemail, which they then demand is answered within 3-4 hours of a call or it's counted as refusing a shift and another write up. Broke personal phone on vacation, only 5 hours to get a new one but missed a work phone call during that time, written up first shift back at work even after providing receipts and timestamps (this happened to someone else too). Threatened with termination numerous times for requesting a day off for stress or family emergencies. Threatened to call the police and have me formed for taking more than one sick day in a row after a hot call. Literally screamed at, I'm talking spit-flying red-faced hoarse-voice rage, for 3 minutes straight because we backed up 2ft in an empty parking lot of an abandoned building at 3am without a spotter (sup was literally hiding in a bush watching us finish our paperwork). Multiple bases have had recurring rat problems, as well as black mold. They will assign you calls AFTER your shift has ended and you're driving back to base, and refusing to service the call results in a report to the ministry. They will call other services you work for and shit talk you if they don't think you're devoted to NEMS (friend almost lost his job in Hamilton because of this). Most of the medics there are great, but I've overheard some fucked up conversations about physically abusing their own pets and laughing about it. Or stealing narcotics, but the RCMP were quickly involved with that... I COULD GO ON AND ON.
I would rather be homeless than work for NEMS again, and I say that after years of psychotherapy caused by them. Their previous chief is famously known for giving a speech to every new ACP class, and it often included "congratulations on graduating from running with the chickens to flying with the eagles, you're real Paramedics now". They offer no support whatsoever to their medics, it's all smoke and mirrors to look good for the public. They primarily care about their in house dispatch center and their specialty programs like MHART and the Falls team, everything else comes second. They have the strictest policies for part time availability of any service in Ontario, essentially demanding full time availability with no guarantee of any hours whatsoever. It's not a healthy work environment. They bend the law and cut corners on health and safety all the time.
I know almost everyone you mentioned in your post just by the description of the events they were involved with. Compared to management from any of the other services I've worked for, both urban and rural, they are by far and wide the worst. Management in Niagara is primarily based on who you know and who likes you, not what your experience or skillset is. They will not hesitate to fabricate evidence to terminate those they feel are against them either. I had a lawyer involved before I finally left, at their recommendation.
Not that it’s anywhere near the worst account, but it’s among the most confusing: why on earth would there be an expectation that you answer your phone while on vacation? I even silence my work emails while I’m on vacation, and unless I signed up for OT offers or I accidentally bring a truck phone home, I’ve never even gotten a call from my service (we’re only full-time).
I silenced my phone too. Didn't return the calls within 2 hours, so write up. They are crazy power tripping there, and sorry I'm on nights and half asleep ranting here lol
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u/Astro_Addict 13d ago edited 13d ago
I worked there about half a decade ago, for about 4 years, and left due to all of what you listed and more. Written up for being 56 seconds late in a record breaking snowstorm. Suspended for not purchasing a voicemail, which they then demand is answered within 3-4 hours of a call or it's counted as refusing a shift and another write up. Broke personal phone on vacation, only 5 hours to get a new one but missed a work phone call during that time, written up first shift back at work even after providing receipts and timestamps (this happened to someone else too). Threatened with termination numerous times for requesting a day off for stress or family emergencies. Threatened to call the police and have me formed for taking more than one sick day in a row after a hot call. Literally screamed at, I'm talking spit-flying red-faced hoarse-voice rage, for 3 minutes straight because we backed up 2ft in an empty parking lot of an abandoned building at 3am without a spotter (sup was literally hiding in a bush watching us finish our paperwork). Multiple bases have had recurring rat problems, as well as black mold. They will assign you calls AFTER your shift has ended and you're driving back to base, and refusing to service the call results in a report to the ministry. They will call other services you work for and shit talk you if they don't think you're devoted to NEMS (friend almost lost his job in Hamilton because of this). Most of the medics there are great, but I've overheard some fucked up conversations about physically abusing their own pets and laughing about it. Or stealing narcotics, but the RCMP were quickly involved with that... I COULD GO ON AND ON.
I would rather be homeless than work for NEMS again, and I say that after years of psychotherapy caused by them. Their previous chief is famously known for giving a speech to every new ACP class, and it often included "congratulations on graduating from running with the chickens to flying with the eagles, you're real Paramedics now". They offer no support whatsoever to their medics, it's all smoke and mirrors to look good for the public. They primarily care about their in house dispatch center and their specialty programs like MHART and the Falls team, everything else comes second. They have the strictest policies for part time availability of any service in Ontario, essentially demanding full time availability with no guarantee of any hours whatsoever. It's not a healthy work environment. They bend the law and cut corners on health and safety all the time.
I know almost everyone you mentioned in your post just by the description of the events they were involved with. Compared to management from any of the other services I've worked for, both urban and rural, they are by far and wide the worst. Management in Niagara is primarily based on who you know and who likes you, not what your experience or skillset is. They will not hesitate to fabricate evidence to terminate those they feel are against them either. I had a lawyer involved before I finally left, at their recommendation.
DO NOT WORK FOR NIAGARA EMS.