Honolulu Announces $2K Monthly Retention Bonus for Emergency Dispatchers and other 911 Staff

High employee turnover rates among 911 call takers, radio operators, and dispatchers is not unusual. In fact, many municipal employers have begun offering monetary incentives and employment perks in an effort to increase employee retention and attract new personnel. Not surprisingly, the City of Honolulu is not immune from this nation-wide challenge.  According to the Honolulu Civil Beat, the Honolulu Police Communications Department [the agency responsible for fielding 911 calls and dispatching the city’s police, fire, and EMS services] has introduced a new retention bonus plan that provides as much as $2,000 per month for some employees.

Citing staffing shortages, high-mandatory overtime, and low morale the plan will provide an additional $500 per month for emergency response operators, $1,000 per month for “call takers,” and $2,000 per month radio operators. These bonuses are in addition to incentive pay that provides personnel with an additional $2 per hour for every hour worked. In total, the retention bonus and incentive pay can boost an entry-level employee’s starting salary to more than $70,000 per year.

Click here for more information from the Honolulu Civil Beat and here is more on the story from Island News.