I have just started at a new place, and have been told that DBAs (or others
like Unix/Windows) don't get paid an on-call allowance for being on call or
when they get a call. There is an informal arrangement that if you get
called in the middle of the night you get time off in lieu.

I would like to canvass this group to see what an industry standard is, and
how common it is to not get an allowance at all.

Please could you tell me

1. How often you are on call.
2. The rate you get for just being available - preferably work it out to an
hourly amount.
3. How much you get (again, hourly amount) when you are called.
4. How much time off you are allowed if called. Ie if called at 0300 - 0500,
are you expected to come in at all, or just for the afternoon, or at the
normal time?

For example:

1. 2 weeks in 6.
2. Equivalent of 1 hours pay a day for being on call.
3. 1 hour's pay for a call before midnight, 3 hours for a call after
midnight, plus double time if call > 30 mins.
4. If call starts and ends before midnight, in before 10:00. If called after
midnight and call < 30 mins in before 11:00. If called after midnight and
call between 1 and 2 hours in before 13:00. Any longer and take the day off.

I would also be grateful for any arguments I can raise for this - up to now
the management have been getting this for nothing (they say it's part of the
salary, but I wasn't told that at the interview!).
Someone has mentioned there may be Occupational Health and Safety issues -
if you are injured while on the way to work, or while at home working on a
call, you may not be covered by law if there is no formal arrangement. Not
sure about this.

Thanks, all input will be helpful.



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