On Call Pay

[Work2Live]

I am currently working at a hospital in SWFL. If the patient census is low, they occasionally will put someone on call (versus calling them off) from either 7a-1p or 7p-1a. This has happened to me twice in less than a week. I earn a whopping $2 an hour to be on call. Has anyone ever negotiated a higher on call rate? Is it reasonable to ask for 50% of my usual hourly rate? I work as a med/surg traveler. I never paid attention to the on call rate because, well, I've never been on call. I have better things to do than sit at home for 6 hours for $12 (minus taxes). Thanks!

[Dogen]

I asked about that when applying for jobs, but was told it's the same for everyone and not negotiable. I get $3.15/hour (fifty percent more than you! ), which I've realized is more a consolation prize for forcing me to be available than real pay. At my last hospital we could refuse to be on call and come in if there was someone willing to go home (and when isn't there?) and we got extra pay if we were actually called in... but not at my new hospital.

[AnthonyD]

It's $2/hr where I work. But if you have a vacation time in your bank, you're allowed to use that to supplement the hours if you want to.

[Work2Live]

As a traveler, I will no longer be "on call" for less than 50% of my hourly rate. My time is too valuable. I will either work or be called off...or simply not work for that organization.