A. Policy
When warranted and in the interest of the County operation, department heads may assign employees to on-call status during off-duty time, to ensure that such workers will be available to respond or return to work to address unplanned, unforeseen, or emergency situations. While on-call, a worker is required to be available by phone at all times. While on call, the worker is not on duty, is not required to remain on County premises. Activity is generally not restricted, however, employees must remain free of the influence of prescription drugs that adversely affect the worker’s ability to safely and effectively perform their job duties, alcohol, and illegal drugs.
This Section clarifies the existing process for the assignment of on-call for workers represented by the SEIU bargaining units. For the purpose of this Section 10 only, each of the special assignments referred to in subsection B below shall constitute an organizational unit.
A. On-Call Assignments
1. Regular and Required On-Call Assignments: Each department will designate certain positions required to perform regular and mandatory on-call assignments, for which they earn on-call pay.
2. Voluntary On-Call Assignments: Departments may also designate certain positions eligible to volunteer for on-call assignments.
B. Process for On-Call Assignment
1. Regular and required on-call assignments, and re-assignments as needed due to worker absences, will be assigned on a rotating schedule and equitably distributed to all workers in such designated positions.
2. For Voluntary on-call assignments, a department may solicit volunteers on a rolling basis, and assignments will be provided on a first come, first serve basis. Individual voluntary on-call assignments may be assigned in the absence of sufficient volunteers.
C. On-Call Compensation
Compensation for on-call duty shall be computed as follows:
Employees shall be paid an hourly rate of five dollars and forty cents ($5.40) for time in which they are required to be in an on-call status, during off-duty time.
Employees are not entitled to on-call pay for any time they are in paid status, including overtime paid for hours worked or minimum hours paid for callback.