The Influence Of Two Factor Theory On Recruitment And Retention Of Volunteer Firefighters

The sharp decline in recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters by fire departments in southeastern Pennsylvania has resulted in the shortage of volunteers to respond adequately to emergencies. This deterioration has culminated into the delivery of inadequate services to most municipalities. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological research was to explore and identify factors that influence recruitment and retention from the perspective of volunteer firefighters in southeastern Pennsylvania who agreed to participate. Additionally, a comprehensive review of scholarly journals as well as volunteer management literature was examined during the conduct of this study. Furthermore, data collection activities was carried out through a one-on-one, face-to-face interview methodology with 25 active volunteer firefighters in the region to answer the interview questions which helped the researcher adequately answer the primary and secondary research questions using Hertzberg's two-factor theory. A major findings from the study indicated that the scarcity of volunteer firefighters to respond to community emergencies was due in large part to the lack of motivational incentives to boost recruitment and retention. It was, therefore, the recommendation that chiefs and policy makers of volunteer fire departments in southeastern Pennsylvania make every effort to provide the motivational needs of potential as well as experienced volunteer firefighters to entice them to enlist and remain with fire departments.

The number of active volunteer firefighters has been steadily dropping in the state of Connecticut for several years. At the same time, the number of public service calls for fire departments has been on the rise. This problem impacts fire protection and municipalities that rely on volunteer fire departments. The purpose of this narrative study was to explore why volunteer firefighter numbers have been declining, the extent to which recruitment and retention programs are used in volunteer fire departments, and how these programs contribute to a fire department's ability to recruit members. Perry's public service motivation model provided the theoretical framework for the study. Research questions focused on improving recruitment and retention programs. Data were collected from interviews with 5 current chief officers and 5 former firefighters in Connecticut and from organizational documents in local fire departments. Open, axial, and selective coding were used to identify 5 themes: lack of awareness of state policy on recruitment and retention, lack of recruitment, public service motivation, retention, and time. A key theme emerging from this study were that participating fire departments have limited effective recruitment and retention programs. The positive social change implications stemming from this study include recommendations to fire department leadership to consider a unified recruitment and retention strategy. This determination provides a foundation for volunteer fire departments to make informed decisions on how to increase recruitment and retention in their respective communities.

This dissertation examines satisfaction levels among volunteer firefighters. In 1985, there were 838,000 volunteer firefighters in the United States. This number dropped to below 756,000 in 2011. Because only eight percent of fire departments in the United States do not utilize volunteer firefighters, reversing the decline in the number of volunteer firefighters is essential to the safety of the public and other firefighters. This study utilized a mixed methods approach to determine what motives exist for those to join the volunteer fire service, how these motives alter and map to expectations for continued service, and how well volunteer departments are meeting these different expectations. A snowball sample completed interviews and concept maps, which enabled the study to identify the widest breadth of factors involved. Then a random, representative sample of volunteer firefighters in the State of South Carolina completed a survey to evaluate the importance of motives and expectations as well as satisfaction levels and projected end of service. Regression analysis determined what factors have an influence on a volunteer firefighter's service length. Results determined that there is no long-term connection of service length associated with initial motives to join. Overall, volunteer firefighters join with naive motives that become informed expectations to continue service. These expectations are mainly values and enhancement factors such as helping others, civic responsibility, serving as a role model, being a member of valued public service and a feeling of accomplishment, but also include a few understanding and social factors such as obtaining training and fellowship. This research also concluded that fire departments are doing well at meeting volunteers' expectations and providing them satisfaction. Despite this conclusion, improvements are necessary. Satisfaction from values factors, years of service, gender, population type served, and equipment (such as light, siren, radio) in a volunteer's personal vehicle have a statistically significant influence on eventual service length, while satisfaction from enhancement factors, intermittent service, race, and career motives to join have a marginally significant influence. From a practical standpoint, this study offers recommendations that fire service leaders can use to improve volunteer recruitment and retention.

The survey results indicated that "belonging" was the most notable factor in maintaining a strong fire fighting manpower resource. Many factors to retain members were discussed in the survey, the intent of this report was not to specify any one method as the primary program but to identify many used to date. Recommendations included a list of various retention methods used that may be beneficial to other departments, methods have not been judged on merit or success in particular departments.

Are there other characteristics common to the fire service professional in suburban departments of large metropolitan areas that are common to personnel with five to fifteen years of service. Procedures included an exhaustive literature search, written survey, and analysis of the survey results for 20 similar sized volunteer paid-on-call midwestern fire departments. Results of the research revealed a diverse and varied approach to recruitment and retainment problems. Results of the survey indicated several commonalities among those individuals selected for the response group. Recommendations from the research were established and a list of common traits and interview questions to determine those traits have been developed. Additionally, a list of programs that have been successful in addressing the recruitment and retainment problem was compiled.

Essentially, Baltimore County's recruitment program must become very aggressive in its approach and in order to retain volunteers, the leadership of the Baltimore County Fire Service must become very aware of the personal needs of individuals.