on-call workers
As-needed employees
On-call workers are employees who don't work fixed schedules but remain available to be summoned when needed.
They may receive some base compensation for their availability, or they may be paid only when actually called in.
Common in healthcare, utilities, and service industries where demand fluctuates unpredictably: The hospital relies on on-call workers to cover overnight emergencies.
The arrangement offers employers flexibility but leaves workers with uncertain income and schedules.
- tempProvisional worker, briefly
- temp agencyBroker for provisional workers
- freelanceSelf-employed project work
- gigShort-term paid work
- gig economyWork based on temporary contracts
zero hours · shift · standby · on demand · pager · emergency · last minute · substitute · casual · relief · hourly · day labor · contract · flexible · part-time · agency · dispatch · available
- substitutessubstitute, subs, replacement, substitutes, stand-in
- job seekersapplicants, candidates, job seekers, interviewees, prospects
on-call workerstenured faculty
Professors with guaranteed employment
civil servants · union workers · company men · permanent staff · lifers
call, worker, work, workers, calls, called, calling, worked, working