Pros
-Aetna is Union while ASM is not. Because of this Aetna has better scheduling. Typically schedules at Aetna are 12 hours and you work either a beginning of the week (Sunday, Monday Tuesday) or end of the week (Thursday, Friday, Saturday). Weeks usually rotate the Wednesday, so week 1 you will work 48hrs (Sun, Mon, Tues, Wed) and week two you work 36 (Sun Mon Tues).
-Aetna also pays for all necessary training and refreshers.
-Bi-Yearly uniform vouchers
-Holiday Pay
-Hourly rate is based on time in certification (not necessarily at the company. For example if you have 5 years experience anywhere you would come in at the top step of 20.33/hr after your 6 month probation.
-Most of the employees are good people and they look out for each other.
-If you are assigned a scheduled transfer they typically give you a 30+ minute window to get there. So you know it is 3pm now and I have to be at Hartford Hospital for 345. Knowing this you can plan your lunch/coffee etc in that time without having to be worried about being assigned to another call.
Cons
-Management treats EMT's like they are disposable because they know that being one of the highest paid services in the state they have a line of applicants. They will run you into the ground with 10+ calls in a 12 hour shift at times.
-Working on a BLS ambulance essentially makes you a transfer truck.
