On-call

The state of being available to work, usually outside of scheduled hours, to respond to emergencies or urgent situations. This arrangement necessitates being reachable by phone or other means and ready to report for duty quickly. Compensation often includes a stipend or extra pay for the on-call period. It commonly applies to professions requiring immediate responses, such as medicine, engineering, and technical support, ensuring continuous service or problem resolution. Availability and responsiveness are paramount during the designated timeframe.

On-call meaning with examples

• Dr. Ramirez is frequently on-call, covering the emergency room overnight and on weekends. This means she must be immediately available if any patient needs emergency care. She gets a specific rate for each on-call shift she covers.
• The IT specialist was on-call during the system update, prepared to address any unexpected issues that may have caused disruptions to the company's network. They monitored the network and were ready to solve any issues immediately.
• After hours, the company's security staff is always on-call to address any alarm triggers at any of the company's locations or potential security risks. This ensures the security of the business.
• The engineers were on-call to address any production line failure 24/7. They were ready to respond fast to prevent significant downtime that could cost the company significantly.