Fair On-Call Rotations

A scheduling principle ensuring that the burden of on-call duties (including weekends and holidays) is distributed equitably across the team.

Fair Rotations

A scheduling principle ensuring that the burden of on-call duties (including weekends and holidays) is distributed equitably across the team.

## It's Not Just About "Number of Days" A week on-call during "Black Friday" is not equal to a week in July. Fairness means: * Rotating who takes holidays. * Tracking "Hours spent awoken" not just "Hours on schedule."

ExFairness Metrics Implementation

"Team tracked fairness metrics and found one engineer had 3x the on-call burden. Implemented rotation equalization: holiday multiplier (1 holiday shift = 2 regular), incident tracking, and quarterly audits. Perception of fairness improved from 2.5 to 4.3/5."

Impact

Perceived fairness improved, team cohesion increased

Resolution

Used spreadsheet to track "incident burden score" per person

Why Fair Rotations Matters

Perceived unfairness destroys team morale.

Prevents "Hero Culture" where one person takes all the hits.

Common Pitfalls

Assuming equal rotation = fair rotation

Equal rotation is not fair if alert volume varies. Track actual incident burden. High-volume weeks should count more than quiet weeks.

Not tracking perceived fairness

Measure perceived fairness quarterly. Perception matters as much as reality. If the team feels it's unfair, address it regardless of what the data says.

Related Terms

Load Distribution On-Call Schedule

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I measure on-call fairness?

Track: total on-call days, holidays covered, incidents handled, nights awoken, and total pages. Use a fairness score that weights these factors. Review quarterly.

Should weekends and holidays count more?

Yes. A holiday shift is worth 2-3 regular shifts. Use a multiplier system. This is especially important for teams with families and personal commitments.

What if someone has a legitimate reason to avoid on-call?

Respect personal circumstances (new parents, caregivers, health issues). Work with them to find alternative contributions. Don't force on-call on those who cannot do it.

Learn More

State of Incident Management 2025

Industry benchmarks, Fair Rotations trends, and insights from 25+ engineering teams.

Free SRE Tools

Calculators, generators, and utilities for incident management teams.