On-call service

On-call duty is a working time model that is used in various industries and professions. Specifically, on-call duty refers to a period outside of regular working hours during which an employee must be available to be called to work immediately if necessary. Usually, this on-call duty is performed outside of regular working hours such as evenings, weekends or public holidays and serves to ensure the continuous availability of workers. On-call duty is therefore particularly necessary in areas that require permanent operational readiness, such as healthcare or emergency services.

Is on-call duty working time according to the Working Hours Act?

According to the Working Hours Act, time that employees spend on call is not working time, but rest time. Only when an employee has to work on call does this constitute working time. A striking example illustrates this: some firefighters are on call between 8 p.m. and 10 a.m. the following day. In the middle of the night, they are called out to a fire call, which takes up two hours of their time. These two hours are counted as working time, while the rest of the on-call time is considered rest time.

However, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has laid down an important condition: Employees must be free to choose where and how they spend their on-call time within a certain framework. If they are restricted in their leisure activities because they have to be at work within a tight deadline, on-call duty can also be interpreted as working time.

On-call duty and remuneration

The situation is similar with regard to on-call duty and its remuneration: the time spent on call, which is not considered working time but a rest period, does not have to be paid. However, if employees work during this time, they are of course entitled to remuneration for on-call duty. As a rule, employees receive their regular hourly rate for the time actually worked. In addition, employees who work on Sundays, public holidays or at night are entitled to corresponding bonuses. However, many companies opt for a flat-rate payment for on-call duty, regardless of the actual working hours during the on-call period. If employees are called to work during their on-call time and record this working time, they must inform their employer of the number of hours worked. If they have already worked their regular hours that week, the additional hours are considered overtime and paid accordingly.

Digital time recording for on-call duty

Digital time recording for on-call duty offers an efficient way of accurately documenting working time during on-call duty. Modern technologies, such as the practical software solution from Krutec, enable precise recording of the actual hours worked and transparent billing of remuneration and bonuses. By using digital solutions, companies and employees alike can benefit from simplified administration and increased accuracy in payroll accounting. This helps to avoid misunderstandings and ensure fair pay for work performed. Digital time recording is therefore an important part of modern work organization, especially with regard to on-call duty.