On-call

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What it really means

When you're not working but must be reachable and ready to come in or respond if needed, common in IT, care and healthcare. There are rules about pay for on-call time — ask how it's paid before agreeing to it.

Chinese explanation
待命（on-call）：你没在上班，但必须保持可联系、随时能到岗或响应，IT、护理和医疗行业常见。待命时间的报酬有相关规定——同意前先问清怎么付钱。

Example conversation

A: Is there any on-call in this role? B: One weekend a month, and you get an on-call allowance for it.
A：这个岗位需要待命吗？ B：每月一个周末，会给你相应的待命津贴。

What you could say back

“How is on-call time paid?”

Related phrases

Shift work Night shift Overtime

Official sources

Rules and amounts change — confirm important details with the official source.

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Reviewed by the UK Decoded editorial team · Last checked 24 July 2026 · Report a mistake