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Glossary

What is an On-Call Shift?

Oluwatomisin Adeyemi · May 5, 2025 · 1 min read

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An on-call shift is a type of work schedule where an employee is not actively working but must be available to report to work or handle work-related duties if needed during a specific period. The employee may be required to remain within a certain distance from their workplace or carry a device like a phone or pager to receive work updates.

Related Terms: Standby Duty, Call-Out Pay, Emergency Response Shift, Flexible Scheduling.

Elements of On-Call Shift

  • Employees may stay at home or go about regular activities, but must be ready to respond quickly.
  • Compensation policies for on-call time vary depending on labor laws and company practices.
  • Common in industries that require 24/7 availability like healthcare, IT, security, and emergency services.

Example

The IT support staff of KYZ company rotates on-call shifts during weekends to ensure someone is available in case of server issues.

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