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 employees will be available to respond or return to work to address unplanned, unforeseen, or emergency situations. While on-call, an employee is required to be available by phone at all times. While on call, the employee is not on duty, is not required to remain on County premises. An employee is not required to restrict personal activities while on-call but must remain free of the influence of prescription drugs that adversely affect the employee’s ability to safely and effectively perform their job duties, alcohol, and illegal drugs.
A. On-Call Assignments
- 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.
- Voluntary or Ad-Hoc On-Call Assignments: Departments may also designate certain positions eligible to volunteer or provide ad-hoc coverage for on-call assignments.
B. Process for On-Call Assignment
- Regular and required on-call assignments, and re-assignments as needed due to employee absences, will be assigned on a rotating schedule, and equitably distributed to all employees in such designated positions.
- 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 shall be equal to that negotiated by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).