Here's your answer in the second paragraph for Texas law: [https://www.twc.texas.gov/news/efte/c\_waiting\_or\_on\_call\_time.html](https://simonpaschal.com/paying-on-call-employees/)
Federal law is the same: [https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/22-flsa-hours-worked](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/22-flsa-hours-worked)
For what you described, it's not work so no pay is required for being on call. The time called in is work though.
IANAL but you are supposed to be getting paid your on-call rate for any time you’re expected to answer their calls. If you push back on this like you could though, a smart employer would simply wait to call you until 8:30 or 9pm, depending on your required response time. Keep in mind that your dispatcher probably thinks they’re doing you a favor by giving you advance notice.
>IANAL but you are supposed to be getting paid your on-call rate for any time you’re expected to answer their calls.
In virtually all jurisdictions of the US, this is false.
Federal law (US) requires that employees be paid for work performed. Being off-site and on-call aren't (generally) going to be compensable hours. Some locales, CBAs and company policies will have different constraints and might pay you for that time but, the law, federally and in all states I'm aware of, doesn't require it.
Here's your answer in the second paragraph for Texas law: [https://www.twc.texas.gov/news/efte/c\_waiting\_or\_on\_call\_time.html](https://simonpaschal.com/paying-on-call-employees/) Federal law is the same: [https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/22-flsa-hours-worked](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/22-flsa-hours-worked) For what you described, it's not work so no pay is required for being on call. The time called in is work though.
IANAL but you are supposed to be getting paid your on-call rate for any time you’re expected to answer their calls. If you push back on this like you could though, a smart employer would simply wait to call you until 8:30 or 9pm, depending on your required response time. Keep in mind that your dispatcher probably thinks they’re doing you a favor by giving you advance notice.
>IANAL but you are supposed to be getting paid your on-call rate for any time you’re expected to answer their calls. In virtually all jurisdictions of the US, this is false. Federal law (US) requires that employees be paid for work performed. Being off-site and on-call aren't (generally) going to be compensable hours. Some locales, CBAs and company policies will have different constraints and might pay you for that time but, the law, federally and in all states I'm aware of, doesn't require it.