On call

.G.

Hi all,

Is there any legislation governing payment for being on call? We don't usually do it but one of our clients has asked our company to be on call over the Christmas break for one of its sites. We as employees don't know what we'd be entitled to and by the same token my boss doesn't know what he's supposed to pay us or charge the client for that matter. It's a small company, electrical contracting business.

seamus

It's a tough one to make a call on, different companies do it differently. There is no legislation on it.

However, the typical method is for an employee who is on call to receive a fixed allowance for being on-call in the first place, plus an hourly rate for every minute they actually have to work.

The allowance is to reflect the fact that while you're not working, you still have to be available, sober, etc. The hourly rate is usually 1.5 or double time.

Over holiday period, the allowance is usually increased. A double or triple allowance for Xmas day and Stephen's day would be normal.

.G.

Thanks, thought there might be legislation, this website seems to indicate there are actual rules laid out but it doesn't reference where it gets those rules from!

GarIT

If it was me in IT support I'd be looking for either 5 times my hourly rate for every hour worked while working for Christmas Eve, day and st. Steven's day assuming you got no pay for the on call hours.

Alternatively, I'd be looking for 30% of my hourly rate for every hour that I was on call. And maybe 50% per hour for every hour on Christmas Eve, day and Steven's day.

.G.

It's extremely unlikely we'd even get a call but for me personally, no money would adequately compensate me for having to be available over the Christmas. The boss may have to look after this one himself!

Mrs OBumble

GarIT wrote: »

If it was me in IT support I'd be looking for either 5 times my hourly rate for every hour worked while working for Christmas Eve, day and st. Steven's day assuming you got no pay for the on call hours.

Alternatively, I'd be looking for 30% of my hourly rate for every hour that I was on call. And maybe 50% per hour for every hour on Christmas Eve, day and Steven's day.

Christmas Eve is not a public holiday, and so is just a regular working day for most people.

average_runner

GarIT wrote: »

If it was me in IT support I'd be looking for either 5 times my hourly rate for every hour worked while working for Christmas Eve, day and st. Steven's day assuming you got no pay for the on call hours.

Alternatively, I'd be looking for 30% of my hourly rate for every hour that I was on call. And maybe 50% per hour for every hour on Christmas Eve, day and Steven's day.

I work in IT. You wouldn't get that kind of money and xmas eve is a normal day.

CelticRambler

Different work, different country altogether, but our on-call wages are hard-wired into a national agreement (not specific legislation) which is exactly as seamus describes. We get 20% of the normal hourly rate for every hour we're on standby, which is not counted as working time for the purposes of the infamous 35-hour week; and 120% of the hourly rate for every hour or part of an hour actually worked. The hours start when you leave the house, finish when you get home, and are counted as part of your working week, which means you're quickly into overtime bonues (+25% for the four hours from 35-39h/wk, +50% for 40+ h/wk).

GarIT

average_runner wrote: »

I work in IT. You wouldn't get that kind of money and xmas eve is a normal day.

After hours on Christmas Eve isn't really a regular day. But I get what you're saying. On the other hand I work in IT and have gotten those rates and probably would agree to work if I got anything less.
We have clients where we have charged €1k per hour for IT support on Christmas Day where we would normally charge €60-100

.G.

superg wrote: »

Thanks, thought there might be legislation, this website seems to indicate there are actual rules laid out but it doesn't reference where it gets those rules from!

Forgot the website I was referring to!

http://www.unionconnect.ie/rights/3/

Irish_Elect_Eng

My team are salaried, indirect working in a manufacturing environment and when it come to covering manufacturing over Christmas (days only, not incl Xmas Day or NYE) The team simply volunteer to make sure that manufacturing is covered, no extra payment, but if they come in they do receive time in Lieu.

If they cannot cover it I cover it.
Nobody has to cover unless it is convenient, but I do appreciate having some cover so that I can have a beer or two on a couple on nights.
But we very rarely get called in, exception rather than the rule.

purpur1

On call working is covered under the normal stipulations of the Organisation of Working Time Act. If someone is on call, they should be paid an availability rate - for example, a quarter of a days salary. If they get called onto a job then they are normally paid a premium for the hours worked only. Normal rest periods apply for hours worked.