I'm a Senior DevOps Engineer, but my role has shifted more towards Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) over the years. Currently, we have a 24/7 on-call schedule split between primary and secondary rotations among six of us. Recently, I was diagnosed with a sleep disorder that requires medication, which leaves me impaired for about 8.5 hours during the night. I've requested an ADA accommodation to adjust my on-call schedule so that I won't be on-call during when I take my medication. My manager has agreed to switch my shifts to daytime, but he expressed doubts about whether this request qualifies for ADA since he believes on-call duties are an essential part of the job. I'm wondering if my request for a modified on-call schedule is somewhat unreasonable in the eyes of most employers, and if I should be considering leaving the DevOps/SRE field entirely.
4 Answers
You might find plenty of jobs out there where on-call responsibilities aren't a big deal. Think about searching for companies that focus on global teams. They often have better systems in place to cover on-call shifts without stressing out individuals.
Not all jobs treat on-call as an essential function, despite what your manager may think. Make sure to get any agreements in writing to protect yourself. And if things start to feel off, seeking legal advice could be beneficial.
It's definitely not an unreasonable request. You should consult a disability attorney to understand your rights fully before making any major career decisions like leaving your job. Knowing what protections you have is key.
If a job isn't paying well and expects you to be on-call, that’s a big red flag. Find a place that respects work-life balance and uses automation to handle issues more efficiently. You deserve a role that won’t lead to burnout!
Exactly! There are so many companies using smart solutions to reduce the need for on-call hours. It's 2023—there's no reason for people to be half asleep juggling incidents.
Yeah, it's really important to document everything. You never know when things could change, and you'll want a record to back you up.