On call

[Missouriborn]

I am in IT, salaried and Exempt. I understand that my employer can make me work a 40 hour week in the office and every other hour outside the office with no additional compensation under these terms. At least from trying trying to read the US labor laws, that's what I am concluding. But, I haven't found any discussion as to whether or not they can put you oncall permanently? I have been oncall for 6 months running 24-7, putting in 40 hours in the office and 10-30 hours a week during the oncall hours. I am highly fatigued and have trouble sleeping because I am always waiting for the phone to ring. I am basically, never off of work. I have twice gone to my manager and asked to train additional people so that I have some off time, but to no avail. Legally, can an employer assign you to work or be available to work 24 hours a day permanently?

 

[cbg]

The law does not address the question of on-call status. In any case, there are only two states (California and Maine) which limit the number of hours an employee can be required to work (and even they only address the question of hours actually working and not hours that you may be on call but not working). Are you in either California or Maine?