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

It’s 4am, you’ve finally drifted off, and then the phone rings. It’s work calling. You have to go in. In Australia, the right to disconnect from work has been legally protected since 2024, allowing most employees to refuse calls from work outside their regular hours. However, for many, regular work involves being “on-call,” a status that keeps them constantly reachable and prepared to respond at a moment's notice, often during non-working hours, including overnight. This arrangement, though flexible for some, frequently compromises sleep quality. Research indicates that merely anticipating the possibility of being called in can disturb sleep, even when no actual call arrives. Being on-call typically means maintaining availability through a phone, pager, or presence at home or work. Employees might be required to remain alert and ready to act immediately upon notification. This could involve giving advice, working remotely, or traveling to the workplace. On-call roles are prevalent in sectors such as emergency services, healthcare, utilities, retail, food service, and certain gig platforms. For instance, a doctor might await a hospital call, while an Uber driver may keep the app running, awaiting the next ride request. Although not all on-call duties involve emergencies, the requirement to shift rapidly from personal to professional modes can be mentally taxing. High-stress scenarios, such as evaluating a critical medical condition, demand immediate and accurate responses, whereas more routine tasks, like resetting a system or covering for a colleague, may seem less urgent. Sleep disruption caused by on-call work can occur when calls interrupt rest. Frequent or prolonged interruptions, especially during nighttime, reduce total sleep duration and impair recovery. Moreover, uncertainty about whether a call will come or fear of missing one contributes to anticipatory anxiety, further disturbing sleep patterns. This phenomenon is not unique to on-call workers; similar effects are observed in individuals experiencing “Sunday scaries”, anxiety about the upcoming workweek that can lead to sleep disturbances. Good sleep plays a crucial role in both physical and mental well-being. During sleep, the brain consolidates memories, regulates emotions, and restores cognitive functions. Simultaneously, the body repairs tissues, supports the immune system, and maintains hormonal and cardiovascular balance. Regular disruptions to sleep compromise these processes, leading to diminished concentration, slower reaction times, and emotional instability. Over time, chronic sleep deprivation increases the likelihood of accidents, mental health issues, weight gain, diabetes, and heart disease. Thus, sleep serves as a foundational element of overall health, and its erosion can have far-reaching consequences. For on-call workers seeking to mitigate sleep loss, prioritizing rest is essential. Some report adjusting their schedules by going to bed earlier on nights they are on-call. Others implement strategies such as limiting exposure to screens before bedtime, using white noise machines, or practicing relaxation techniques. Employers, too, can play a role by offering flexible scheduling, ensuring adequate rest periods, and promoting a culture that values employee well-being. As awareness grows around the impacts of on-call work on sleep, there is increasing pressure for policies that better support workers in balancing professional obligations with personal health.