I've been on call for my IT job for one week each month, where I have to be available after work hours from 4:30 PM to 10:30 PM on weekdays and 8 AM to 4 PM on Sundays. During this time, I'm expected to monitor support calls, check the IT inbox, watch for security alerts, ensure backups are completed, and coordinate with the SOC team. I'm required to stay within 30 minutes of my workplace, and if I miss a call, my manager usually wants an explanation, regardless of whether I was busy. I've done some calculations and realized that if we were paid hourly for the hours I mentioned, we would make more than the flat fee we're currently receiving. Is this typical in the IT sector, or am I being taken advantage of? I'd love to hear your thoughts!
4 Answers
It seems kind of exploitative—your role sounds more active than traditional on-call duties. When I was on-call, I got a flat rate just to be available, and I would get paid more if I had to actively work on any tickets or issues that arose. If you're actively working during those hours, you should definitely be able to negotiate for a higher rate or some form of overtime payment.
For real! On-call should mean being ready to fix problems, not doing the work itself unless you're called in for an issue.
This scenario is typical in many places, but it’s certainly not ideal. Companies often exploit their employees, expecting them to manage more work under the guise of being on call. I think you should definitely consider discussing this with your manager or HR about fair compensation for the workload you described.
Yeah, if it's impacting your life and time, it’s worth addressing. You’re providing a valuable service, and they should recognize that with fair pay.
If it doesn't get any better, it might be worth looking for another position where your skills and time will be valued better.
From what you've described, it sounds like you’re being underpaid. True on-call roles don’t involve doing regular work; they just mean you’re there if an emergency pops up. If you feel undercompensated, I recommend documenting everything you do and using that information to negotiate better pay or even look for a new job.
Good idea! Documenting your workload will give you strong grounds to argue your case for a pay raise.
Absolutely! Companies need to understand the value of your time and the stress of being on call.
It sounds like you're working a second shift instead of just being on call. The definition of on-call means you should be available if something goes wrong, but you shouldn't be actively monitoring systems—that's full-time work. If you're required to check emails and alerts, that’s more than just being on hold; you're actively working. It seems your company is taking advantage of you, and this setup isn’t typical for on-call roles in the industry.
Completely agree! If they expect you to monitor inboxes and system alerts, that's not really on-call. On-call usually just means you're available to respond if something urgent arises.
Yes, being within 30 minutes and having to constantly monitor things is not your average on-call arrangement. They should be compensating you fairly for that.
Exactly! If you're doing actual work like updating servers and checking backups, you should be compensated for every hour you work, not just for being available.