Should I get paid for being on call for work?

Question

I work shift work, four on and four off. After my day shift, my company makes me be on call for work for two hours in the morning and two hours at night. Shouldn't I get paid for waiting around the house to see if they need me to work?

Answer 1

no, get a cellphone

Answer 2

Yes. I work 7 on and 7 off and each person on my crew is on call for a day of the 7 off. We get paid something like $2 an hour just for being on call. I would say yes, you should be paid for having to work your time around whether or not they may or may not need you. Otherwise, I don't guess you can get in trouble for not picking up the phone. It's not like you were on the clock to be picking up your phone!

Answer 3

It's not likely a legal requirement but it should be something you speak to your employer about.

Your employer can not, unless they are prepared to compensate you, and you have agreed, force you to sit around pre or post your scheduled shift.

If you look to the federal government, you will find that the union contracts in place have conditions and payroll regulations for being on call. Use those as a guideline to negotiate with your employer and suggest that they consider that if they are not willing to value your time, then the time will not be theirs to have access to.

Remember not to appear challenging but approach it democratically - don't negotiate yourself out of a job.

Answer 4

yes, you definitly should get paid for this, usually a person gets paid a minimum of 4 hours whether they are called or not and time and half for every hour worked if called in to work. but not both.

Answer 5

No. Not usually. Depends on the company rules and state and local law.
Often, though, on-call pay is a little higher, so that if you ARE called in, you might get paid a little more (not always the case, though).

Answer 6

Oh, who really cares? There is not much to be said for a man who roams those alleys at night. If someone wants to make a trip downtown for that sort of sleazy thing, it is his right. What a waste of taxpayer's money, having the police pick up girls off the street to arrest them. Then they can fine them and make money. It is the same with marijuana use. Granted, I don't favour either activity, but it is not the hooker who is threatening me and following me late at night. Hardcore addicts need rehabilitation and should be put into drug detox.

Answer 7

Most of the time there is a stipend (a set amount of money . . . $10, $20) just for being "on call" depending on the line of work. I work in a payroll department and that is what we have. We pay them the stipend as well as the amount of time they worked if they do in fact get called out. I would talk to your supervisor to see if you have something like this in place.

Answer 8

yes, you should get paid, but not as if you were at work. here where i work when you are on call you get paid $2 an hour and if you get called in you get 1 hour extra of pay for "callback"

Answer 9

No unless you do actual work you won't get paid, but you should not have to stay at home give your job a cell phone or pager # to call when you are needed.

Answer 10

Yes, you should get paid. You do not go shopping when you are on your shift right? Tell them that unless they pay you that time is your time and not theirs.

Answer 11

That's not how it works, unfortunately. I have never heard of anyone getting paid for on-call. Give tehm your cell number so you don't have to stay at home waiting.