How being ‘on-call’ for work can disrupt your sleep – even if the call never comes

Tourialay Akbari/Getty It’s 4am, you’ve finally drifted off, and then the phone rings.

It’s work calling.

You have to go in.

The right to disconnect from work has been protected by law in Australia since 2024.

This means most employees can refuse to answer calls from work outside their regular work hours.

But for many of us, regular work involves being “on-call”.

While you’re not officially working, this “standby” mode means you need to be available to spring into action if required: to answer emails or phone calls, or do other tasks at short notice, outside regular work hours – including overnight.

This flexible kind of work can suit many people.

But unfortunately sleep is often the casualty .

And our research shows just knowing you might be called in is enough to disrupt your sleep, even if the call never comes.

What is on-call work? Being on-call means you can’t fully switch off and must stay reachable and ready to work if your employer needs you.

That might mean waiting at home, staying at work, or carrying a phone or pager.

If called, you might need to give advice, work remotely, or potentially travel to your workplace.

On-call work is common in emergency services, health care, utilities, retail, food service, and some gig-platform work.