The positive impact of having on having an on-call firefighter on your staff

While Warwickshire Fire & Rescue Service is an integral pillar of our county’s communities, on-call firefighters are an integral pillar of Warwickshire Fire & Rescue Service. On-call officers perform their duties alongside their working lives with the approval of their employers. But, far from disruptive to the workplace, having an on-call firefighter on the staff is positive in many ways. Matthias Idler, Finance Director of Stepover International, explains why the business is pleased and proud to have on-call firefighter Julian Benz on their staff at Bidford-on-Avon.

"Julian’s role does not affect business and if it does, tends to affect it positively. Who doesn't like firefighters?"

Matthias, tell us about the business...

StepOver has provided all kinds of products for electronic signature solutions for over 20 years. We offer a variety of native and cloud-based solutions which customers and partners can integrate in their processes, saving time and money by optimising processes and avoiding slow paper-based workflows. Furthermore, businesses can also reach their customers more easily and comfortably remotely without the need of physical attendance of signers.

What is Julian's role within the company?

Julian is a Senior Key Account Manager for our international business. He takes care of major customers and maintains and expands our international partner network. Our products require a good understanding of our customers' needs and an above-average level of consulting, so Julian covers these important tasks. We are very happy to have him in our team.

How does his role as on-call firefighter affect his role with the business?

Of course, there are situations during his on-call-times, when a meeting needs to be postponed or Julian has to leave unplanned. Our experience is that this does not happen too often and, if there are very important meetings, Julian will book off-call several hours prior to them.

Business relationships are essentially relationships between people and we see his activity as a firefighter as exciting and a positive contribution to society. Our customers and partners are frequently interested to know about it, so Julian’s role does not affect business and if it does, tends to affect it positively. Who doesn't like firefighters?

On-call firefighters are so important to the safety of our communities. Thank you for allowing Julian to take up the role. It is a very worthwhile way in which a business can support its local community isn't it?

Absolutely. And there is one more aspect. Our employees are the most important part of our company. It is very important to us that our employees can develop professionally and personally. Julian's wish to become an on-call firefighter was new for us, but, as already mentioned, also exciting and worth supporting.

Can you see any specific benefits to your company of having an on-call who serves local communities?

 I think many partners and customers recognise activities like Julian's for the local community as an important value. Any kind of contribution like Julian’s in my perception is also supporting one of the principles of sustainability: ‘think globally, act locally!.’

I guess having an employee who goes above and beyond to serve their local community is a good news story, so can raise the profile and reputation of the company…

Today’s success depends on visibility and you need to reach potential customers with online marketing, SEO, SEA, etc. If Julian’s contribution can be future content for social media or on our Blog, then it’s definitely worth considering.

Like all on-call firefighters, Julian received WFRS training…does this  have benefits for his his primary employment at Stepover?

Well, learning how to put out a fire or rescue people from the danger zone while wearing a breathing mask probably doesn't affect consulting for IT-products! However, many things you learn from WFRS training strengthen your general sense of responsibility and your ability to work in a team. I'm convinced it does.

What would you say to any business which has an employee interested in becoming an on-call firefighter?   

I would say consider it seriously and, if the circumstances are feasible, support it!