‘It’s a toxic work environment;’ METCAD employees call for action on staffing shortage

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — The Champaign County METCAD Policy Board met on Thursday to discuss a recent shortage of operators and what to do next to remedy the issue.

Staffing has been on the minds of the dispatch center’s administrators for the last three years. They need 33 fulltime dispatchers to fill their roster and right now, they have 17 .

The board said they are grateful for the hardworking staff and are working to better its overtime policy. But employees said the situation is different.

Public comment saw employees say things like “the staffing crisis truly has no end in sight” and they are “suffering from a crisis in leadership,” referring to management. They also said they are working too much overtime.

One employee’s spouse said working in law enforcement will always be stressful, but according to him, fixing the problem starts with those in charge.

“I don’t like to say that, but it’s a toxic work environment. Hence why I said what I said,” Chad Beasley said. “I have systematically watched her decline. And just like her being and how she was. It just takes the right person to be compassionate, take a step back and step up into those roles.”

The board wrapped up its meeting by saying they bring up staffing shortages at every department meeting because they said this is a growing obstacle in law enforcement. Employees presented a call-to-action packet looking into various ways of keeping up hiring efforts, including hiring a consultant.

Anyone interested in applying to work at METCAD can visit their website.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.