For millions of workers in medicine, emergency services, and beyond, the boundary between rest and duty has never truly existed — and science is now confirming what their bodies have long known. Research reveals that on-call work disrupts sleep not only through the calls themselves, but through the quiet, persistent weight of anticipation that keeps the mind half-awake all night. Sleep, far from a passive luxury, is the body's essential maintenance window, and when it is chronically fractured, the consequences accumulate into accidents, illness, and diminished capacity to care for others. The
The Hidden Cost of On-Call: How Standby Work Disrupts Sleep Even Without a Call
On-call workers, particularly in healthcare and emergency services, experience chronic sleep deprivation affecting their health, safety, and ability to provide critical care.