On Call Allowance

C_Mababejive

jim_walton wrote: »

Being on call is classed as working time.
reference
direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/WorkingHoursAndTimeOff/DG_10029426

Not quite...time spent on call "at the workplace"

So you could be at home,be unable to substantially go about your normal life becuase of the potential to be called out,and it would still not be classed as working time.

this is an archaic anomaly much exploited by some employers at present.

i.e they reduce the workforce, roster the rest of them for more callout ,and yet do not have to pay them or compensate them if they are not called out yet they are still at the disposal of the employer.

[Deleted User]

C_Mababejive wrote: »

Same here..though not in IT.

Mind you,would a percentage of your calls be remote admin jobs?



As an aside...do any of you people who are on call have your on call hours classed as "working time" ?

I don't really do any admin jobs. I usually only do on-call 'for free' when we have a system go-live event, so these usually last a week. I don't really mind these, as they are infrequent and fairly rewarding.

I certainly don't sleep very well when i'm on call though

woody01

ringo_24601 wrote: »

ha, i'm a highly skilled IT consultant and we don't get paid anything extra to be on call

Too right...totally agree.
I am also in a highly skilled area, on call 24/7 aswell and this is reflected in my overall salary.
I certainly wouldn't expect anything extra for holding a cell phone.

Ivrytwr3

But you do get extra, you said it is in your salary. Whether it's factored into your salary or given as overtime, you are still getting extra.

So if you started a new job with the OP and had a set wage and set hours ie 8-5

Your employer then brought in on call duties AFTER your normal working day had finished; would you need expect to be paid extra for this duty?

I think you would.

terra_ferma

woody01 wrote: »

Too right...totally agree.
I am also in a highly skilled area, on call 24/7 aswell and this is reflected in my overall salary.
I certainly wouldn't expect anything extra for holding a cell phone.

I think you hit the nail on the head. Care work is not considered a highly skilled job (I won't go into the debate of the high level of skill this job involves), and salaries reflects the low status.
It would be very unfair to introduce on calls without any compensation!

jim_walton

C_Mababejive wrote: »

Not quite...time spent on call "at the workplace"

So you could be at home,be unable to substantially go about your normal life becuase of the potential to be called out,and it would still not be classed as working time.

this is an archaic anomaly much exploited by some employers at present.

i.e they reduce the workforce, roster the rest of them for more callout ,and yet do not have to pay them or compensate them if they are not called out yet they are still at the disposal of the employer.

I think we may be talking about different things here..I meant working time, not work.....
For instance on call at home and on call at work...
But I will be keen to here what you think..

XDA

I work as an IT Field Engineer.

Im paid £90 for 7 nights, whether Im called out or not. Then paid time and a half per hour for any call-out.

C_Mababejive

jim_walton wrote: »

I think we may be talking about different things here..I meant working time, not work.....
For instance on call at home and on call at work...
But I will be keen to here what you think..

Yes apologies..its a complex area and needs some actual case law behind it here in the UK.

Consider a situation whereby you are required to be on call but you can be at home to be on call. Because of the response time required by your employer,essentially,you cant really leave the house or go about your normal business. Should all such hours which you are required to be on call,whether called out or not,be considered working time due to the restrictions imposed by being on call?

jim_walton

C_Mababejive wrote: »

Yes apologies..its a complex area and needs some actual case law behind it here in the UK.

Consider a situation whereby you are required to be on call but you can be at home to be on call. Because of the response time required by your employer,essentially,you cant really leave the house or go about your normal business. Should all such hours which you are required to be on call,whether called out or not,be considered working time due to the restrictions imposed by being on call?

Thats sounds correct..I'm on call every seven days from 1630 hours till 0800 hours the next day...This is working time and as such is subject to the working time directive.The WTD says you are entitled to eleven hours
uninterrupted rest in every 24 hours. Therefore if i get called at midnight and am out for 2 hours i do not start work the day after until 10.00 hours...Instead of my normal start time of 08.00 hours

ThrowingStonesAtYou

I get paid £2/hr for weekday standby and £3/hr for weekend standby. £4/hr for bank hols. £15/hr if i get called on a weekday or £25/hr if i get called on a weekend.