Need help from you business experts, HR people, managers, economic types -- What is this called??

[Sparkly]

Hope I can explain this... Let's say someone is being hired to do work at an hourly rate, but the work involves only a few hours scattered throughout the year. They have to have that time available -- in other words, it's necessary for the person not to have other work on particular Thursday afternoons or Saturday mornings, for instance. Is there ever a premium paid for that availability, and if so, what is that called???

TIA! :dunce:

[northzax]

1. it's called being on call

and if you are an hourly employee, you should be compensated for it. they want exclusive access to your time, then it needs to be compensated.

[Sparkly]

2. But if planned in advance...?

If it's set up on a calendar ahead of time?

[HopeHoops]

3. A retainer

If they have to be available and you are paying them for the time whether there is work or not, you pay them a retainer fee for the unused hours. It isn't always the same rate as the worked hours rate.

[hippywife]

4. I think that is called

part-time if there are certain hours that you must be available to work. If it truly isn't scheduled and just as a "called if needed" basis, then we call that PRN:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pro_re_nata

The term does apply to more than just medications.