We're trying to figure out the best way to manage a 24-hour on-call schedule with just three of us. Our normal working hours are from 7 AM to 5 PM Monday to Thursday, and we often work extra hours on Fridays. We thought about having one person cover from 12 PM to 10 AM, but that would mean they'd be on call for the others as well, which doesn't seem fair. What are some solutions or ideas we can consider?
5 Answers
Honestly, three people isn't really enough for true 24/7 coverage. You might want to reconsider if you really need that level of coverage. For most jobs, only specific parts need around-the-clock attention. Unless you're in a sector like healthcare or manufacturing, it may not be essential to be this available all the time.
As others have pointed out, three people usually won't cut it for 24/7 shifts. A weekly rotation where one person is on call while the others work normal hours could work best. It's fair, but just be aware that burnout is a real risk with this approach.
You might need more than three people if you're thinking of offering time off. Basic math suggests that you'd need at least five people to handle 24/7 coverage effectively without risking burnout.
If you're in a pinch, you could try 12-hour shifts temporarily, but long-term you really need a better ratio of coverage and potentially consider having a staggered schedule or hiring more staff. Otherwise, you risk serious burnout among your team.
In my experience, many places manage by having normal operations during business hours and shift to 24/7 duty outside those times. One person handles incidents during business hours while the on-call person manages everything else. Just keep in mind to allow for short-term exceptions, like if someone has plans on a weekend. It usually works out for most teams!
That makes total sense! I’ll have to take that into account when we discuss our needs.