Reperibilità

Reperibilità is a labor arrangement in which an employee must be reachable and available outside ordinary working hours to respond to the employer’s needs. During reperibilità, the worker typically remains in standby, sometimes at home or at a prescribed location, ready to begin work on short notice if called.

The concept is common in sectors where urgent intervention is required or where service continuity is critical. It is frequently found in healthcare (on-call professionals), public services, utilities, transport, and IT, as well as in certain production or emergency response roles.

Time and compensation are defined by contracts or national or sectoral collective agreements. Reperibilità is usually compensated by a fixed indemnity or included in the salary. If the worker is actually called to perform tasks, the period counts as working time according to applicable rules and may be paid as ordinary time or overtime, depending on the contract and local regulations. If no call occurs, no additional hours are earned beyond the indemnity.

Regulation varies by country, sector, and agreement. In Italy, reperibilità is typically governed by national collective agreements and individual contracts, with provisions on duration, required response times, rest periods, and health and safety considerations. The arrangement can affect work-life balance and scheduling, and it is subject to legal limits on total working time and required rest.

Overall, reperibilità describes the obligation to stay available for work outside normal hours, with compensation and specific rules defined by the applicable contract or agreement.