3 Steps to Take to Maximize Your Productivity While Youre On-Call

3 Steps to Take to Maximize Your Productivity While Youre On-Call As work schedules become increasingly unpredictable and the 9-to-5 standard feels more and more like a concept from the past, on-call work shifts are growing in popularity across numerous industries. When youre on-call, your company expects you to make yourself available to step in and perform work-related tasks if needed, but youre elend strictly on the clock. As a result, the pay scale for on-call work varies from normal shift compensation. On-call hours can feel tricky to navigate, but a few key guidelines will help you maintain your boundaries while still providing necessary support to your company.1. Set clear boundaries with your company and with yourself.On-call time can sometimes feel like a lawless no-mans land for employees, with managers and coworkers sending constant messages and holding a very loose concept of your scheduled hours. Thats why its crucial to tischset your boundaries right from the beginning and make sure that your colleagues know exactly when youll be available for on-call work, when youre signing off, and how best to reach you during that time. If youre scheduled for an overnight on-call shift, that may mean instructing your coworkers to call you rather than emailing, so you can catch some Zzzs when youre not actively working on a project. If you find that your colleagues arent abiding by the on-call schedule and are pinging you when youre supposed to be finished with work, feel free to set your phone to Do Not Disturb. If youre lax about your boundaries, your colleagues will likely follow your example, so you owe it to yourself to be strict with your enforcement.2. Be proactive about scheduling time off when you cant be on-call.Even if your industry doesnt require you to report to your workplace during on-call shifts, time spent at home while youre on-call doesnt count as time off. Therefore, its crucial for on-call workers to schedule genuine days off for themselves times when colleagues cant phone or email them for work-related assistance. If youre an on-call worker with PTO, take full advantage of your companys policies, and communicate to your coworkers that youll be unplugging during that time. Then, make sure to really stick with that. Be ready and willing to rigorously defend your vacation and personal days3. Fully understand your companys policies about on-call pay and assert yourself if youre not being fairly compensated.Pay structures for on-call shifts greatly depend on the rules observed by specific industries. If your on-call position requires you to physically report to your workplace (like medical staff working on-call at a hospital), The Balance says that you must be paid for the time you spend on site. However, if your on-call shift can be performed at home in what employers call non-restricted conditions, your company can refrain from deeming this time work hours and can legally avoid compensating you for them. Nevertheless, The Balance points out that different industries have their own policies about this, and some companies will agree to pay on-call employees even if their shifts dont happen at an office or place of business. Also, certain states have laws protecting on-call workers, so youll want to research the rules set down by your state government to see if and when youre entitled to on-call compensation. Keep in mind that salaried and exempt workers dont need to be compensated for on-call availability.