How being ‘on-call’ for work can disrupt your sleep – even if the call never comes
On-call work doesn’t always mean responding to an emergency. But you typically have to switch into work mode very quickly – so it can be hard to fully switch off.
A growing body of research highlights how being on-call for work can significantly disrupt sleep, even when the actual call never arises. This "on-call" status, prevalent in fields like healthcare, emergency services, and gig platforms, means workers remain ready to respond to work demands outside regular hours. While being called at night can obviously disrupt sleep, the mere anticipation of such calls has similarly negative effects, a phenomenon known as the "anticipation effect."
This anxiety or dread about potential calls can lead to poor sleep quality, akin to the "Sunday scaries" many feel before a new work week. The impact of on-call work on sleep extends beyond just feeling tired; it can impair memory formation, emotional regulation, and physical repair processes that occur during sleep. Over time, chronic lack of quality sleep can heighten risks of accidents, mental health issues, weight gain, diabetes, and heart disease.
To mitigate these effects, prioritizing sleep is crucial. Simple strategies like going to bed earlier on on-call nights can help, as can ensuring the sleep environment is cool, dark, and quiet. Limiting caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol intake, especially before bedtime, can also support better sleep quality. However, the responsibility for addressing on-call-related sleep issues lies not just with individuals but also with employers.
Designing flexible, well-structured on-call schedules that allow sufficient rest periods post-on-call nights is essential. Organizations are beginning to explore the optimal balance between on-call work and rest, aiming to provide clear guidelines on acceptable call volumes and frequency to protect workers' sleep health.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
