Call-out

A call-out happens when an employee is unexpectedly required back at work after they’ve already left for the day. Call-outs may also occur while an employee is on standby.

A call-out is considered overtime. If you're an excluded employee, you are not eligible for call-out compensation.

On this page

• Compensation
• Transportation
• Eight-hour rest interval
• Calculating call-out time
• Entering call-outs

Compensation

Compensation for call-outs can be taken in pay or time off. Pay is at overtime rates for a minimum of 3 hours per call-out. 

Transportation

Reimbursement for transportation expenses is provided if travel from home is required to respond to a call-out or to work overtime: 

• When convenient public transportation or other transportation facilities are not available
• It is between the hours of 11:30 pm and 6 am

Eight-hour rest interval

At the end of a call-out, employees are entitled to a break of 8 hours before the start of their next shift.

Calculating call-out time

Usually a call-out requires a separate round trip to the workplace and back home again. This kind of call-out is measured from the time an employee leaves home until the time they arrive back at home (providing the employee travels directly to and from work).

If the call-out flows continuously into a regularly-scheduled shift, the call-out is measured from the time the employee leaves home until the time their regular shift begins.

Entering call-outs

For instructions on entering call-outs, access Time and Leave Support.

Typical call-out

An employee is requested to return to work unexpectedly. The employee works the call-out and returns home. There are more than 8 hours left before their next regular shift begins. Because they travelled directly to and from work, the call-out is calculated from the time the employee left home until they time they returned home. Overtime rates are paid at a minimum of 3 hours per call-out.

Call-out of 3 hours or less that flows continuously into a regular shift

An employee is called at home and asked to come to work for an early morning call-out before their regular shift. Leaving the house at 5 am to get to the call-out on time at 6 am, the employee continues working right into the regular shift (8 am to 4 pm). The employee is paid 3 hours overtime in addition to the regular day’s pay.

Call-out of more than 3 hours that flows continuously into a regular shift

When a call-out exceeds 3 hours and flows into a regular shift, the employee is allowed to leave early from their regular shift the same amount of time that their call-out exceeded 3 hours.

For example, an employee’s call-out begins at 4 am and flows into their regular shift that begins at 8:30 am. The employee is free to leave at 3 pm (1.5 hours early—the length of time the call-out exceeded 3 hours by).

The employee will be paid for 4.5 hours of overtime in addition to full pay for a regular 7-hour shift.

Eight-hour rest before the beginning of the next shift

An employee is permitted to arrive late for their next scheduled shift if they work a call-out that overlaps by three or more hours into the 10 hours that precede their next scheduled shift. This allows enough time for the employee to receive a full 8-hour rest period.

For example, an employee works a night call-out from 9 pm to 3:30 am. Although they are scheduled to begin a regular shift again at 8 am, the employee is not required to show up until 11:30 am (providing them with a full 8-hour rest).

The employee is permitted to go home at the regular time and is paid for the full 7-hour shift in addition to the 6.5 hours of overtime for the call-out.