On-call scheduling, sometimes referred to as on-call shifts, are processes used in business where employee work schedules are intentionally unpredictable. Employees who work on-call are expected to be available at any time during their shift, usually with short notice, to carry out their working duties.^[1] Depending on the nature of the profession, on-call duties may vary from what is expected during normal working hours^[2] to emergency cover only.

The examples and perspective in this article may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. (May 2016)

An individual working on-call either during weekdays or weekends, usually has a regular waged or salaried term of employment, to which working on-call is an addendum (e.g. doctors, veterinarians, emergency services, engineers).

• Eight-hour day
• 996 working hour system
• Shift plan
• Gig worker