Unpaid weekend on call - 52 weeks of the year

Monfreid · 21-04-2025 07:46PM #1

Hello,

quick question about on call. My manager left the company a few months back and I've been covering for him since. No pay rise or promotion in the near future. I'm still doing my old job and I have to look after what my manager used to work on too so very stressful and unrealistic to work like this in the long term.

As part of my job, I used to be on call once a quarter at the weekend as it was rotating between everybody in my team across the globe. Now, as part of my new responsibilities, I have to be on call every weekend for any P1 escalation. When I raised this with my manager, he didn't get my point and it was my duty as a leader to be on call … but the fact is that I still have my old job title, I had no pay raise and double the work … it's totally unacceptable but I think the only thing my manager would react to is that if I tell him that this is actually illegal in Ireland. I know that 2 of my colleagues in Europe are not on call because in their country, on call has to be paid so they are off the hook.

Do you know if there is regulation in Ireland that would prevent me to be on call every weekend of the year. I don't mind to be on call but it has to be fair and respect my work life balance, At this stage, my company is getting a good deal out of me as I'm doing 2 jobs and they didn't promote and gave me a pay rise. I only see sticks and no carrot in this new role. No sign of hiring a new manager either …

Thank you

ax530 · 21-04-2025 07:52PM

This does not sound good at all.

Unfortunately I don't know the answer to your question however a starting point while you waiting for someone who does would be to read up on European Working hours directive if it covers on call duty.

Buddy Bubs · 21-04-2025 07:57PM

Absolute madness don't accept that. I bet your old manager was well paid for it.

In my place there's an on call retainer of 100 euro per week and a minimum of 2 hours overtime at time and a half for any callouts. Double time for after midnight, Sundays or bank holidays.

Once every 6 to 8 weeks for each guy and they still dont really like doing it.

Can't see any of the employees doing it for free.

JVince · 21-04-2025 07:58PM

A simple Google search gives you the information

https://www.workplacerelations.ie/en/what_you_should_know/employment_types/zero-hours-working-practices/

HBC08 · 21-04-2025 08:10PM

They're doing this because you're facilitating it.

I was in a position a few years ago where management chanced their arm with the team I was on saying we had to be on call at certain times.No extra money or benefits.

This was during recession and half the team wanted to do it out of fear.Thankfully the other half simply said its not happening, that was the end of that .

Just say you're not doing it,what can they say to you?

fritzelly · 21-04-2025 08:19PM

What does your contract say?

JVince · 21-04-2025 08:28PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123378105#Comment_123378105

Makes no difference whatsoever unless it's better than the regulations

Monfreid · 21-04-2025 08:36PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123378047#Comment_123378047

@JVince

Thanks for the link, I did search for info before coming here but could not find anything that would clearly answer my question.

I thought zero working hours contract where for people who work in retail or restaurant for example, since I have a full time job, I didn't think that would apply to on call.

fritzelly · 21-04-2025 08:40PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123378132#Comment_123378132

Makes a whole lot of difference if he/she is paid with being on call as part of the contract and the wage includes renumeration for such. And if is actually called in to work is there reciprocal time off etc

kippy · 21-04-2025 08:51PM

Start looking for another job. See how things pan out from there.

JVince · 21-04-2025 08:53PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123378175#Comment_123378175

Only if better than the regulations which set a minimum level of payment for hours sitting about being available.

If the contract says 10% it's of no consequence as the statutory minimum is 25%

Mrs OBumble · 21-04-2025 08:54PM

I think you need to start job hunting.

They are totally taking the pi$$. On call EVERY weekend is totally unfair and unsustainable. Paid or not.

Either they are in financial difficulty or they totally don't respect you. Neither is good to stay working there.

machiavellianme · 21-04-2025 08:56PM

What happens if you don't answer the calls?

There's a working time directive that limits the maximum number of hours you can work in a week (apart from a few niche areas), say you are breaching that due to too many calls.

JVince · 21-04-2025 09:01PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123378165#Comment_123378165

I've always been told it applies to everyone by my accountant and we would have people on call at certain times of year that is in addition to their regular work.

He's strong on hr issues, so I would suspect he is correct.

Monfreid · 21-04-2025 09:03PM

I have started to look for another job as this is not working for me but it's kind of hard to find something at the moment in my area.

I am on call every weekend but don't really get calls since it's only for P1 escalations which is very rare but I still have to be available

If i don't answer the call, it will be transferred to my manager who is US based

I'm on call 9am to 5pm.

h2005 · 21-04-2025 09:34PM

Just refuse to do it. Why would you tie yourself down like this without anything for it?

22-04-2025 09:55AM

I get an extra 20% of my wages on top of it for been on call the weekend for P1 issues.

I continue on my life as normal, I might get a call once every two months. If I don’t answer someone else will. You don’t put your life on hold for it whatsoever or have to make yourself available. If I was at a concert or game or out driniking or something I just tell them you need someone else and give my reason.

I usually just leave the laptop in boot of car.

Ted222 · 28-04-2025 08:07PM

If your manager is not entertaining your request, you could consider submitting a grievance under the company’s related policy, the details of which should be in your contract/employee handbook.

backwards_man · 04-07-2025 01:47PM

If you are a full time salaried employee you cannot be working 40 hours per week (or whatever your weekly hours are) and also be expected to be available for emergency cover (P1 in your case) every weekend. Email HR and ask them what is their policy on expecting your grade to be available 52 weekends per year in addition to working your regular hours and go from there. If HR is not based in IReland and not familiar with Irish law in this regard tell them that you are not doing it and that the company needs to come up with a different plan to you being "available" every weekend of the year.

Even if they were paying you an on-call allowance (which they are not), they cannot expect you to be available for working 52 weekends of the year on top of your regular working week. If you are a manager or above, you could be asked to be available in the case of emergency on a best-case basis, meaning that if you are out getting hammered or just simply asleep or living your life, you will try to re-act to their needs but if you are busy then tough, and they cant fire you for that.

I am guessing you are on a 24/7 support team. They need to schedule it properly and pay. If it is "manager" cover, then let them promote you and pay you accordingly but you also need backups for the weekend escalations, it cant be you all the time making yourself available, and they need to pay those backups too. Your alternative is to just say No. I would start looking for a new job if I were you.

BraveDonut · 04-07-2025 02:11PM

Try not answering the phone/page the next time that there is a P1. Let it go to your manager. Hopefully they get woken in the middle of the night and get pissed off.
Tell them you were not available for family reasons.
It will raise awareness of the issue and lets you highlight the fact that it is impossible for you to be always on call.

GHendrix · 11-08-2025 04:46PM

If you work On Call, you need to receive a stand by payment for the hours you are on call and then additional payment for every call. That’s how it was in my last job

DubCount · 22-10-2025 08:46AM

I would tell your manager that you are finding continual on-call arrangement to be very stressful, and you are concerned you are not getting a chance to disengage from work. The "stress" piece is a warning that you might go sick or leave. The right to disengage from work is not under any specific legislation but is supported by the WRC.

I would also look for a new job. Extra money will not compensate you for never being off duty.

Squatman · 08-12-2025 04:03PM

did you choose to change jobs? as others have suggested its best to escalate. i wouldnt bite my nose off to spite my face. you cant cahange the past, but you can change the future, hav a proactive converstaion stating that you can only cover 1x per month, or 1x per quarter of whatever you are comfortable with

Unpaid weekend on call - 52 weeks of the year

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