29 CFR § 785.17 - On-call time.
---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t29/s785.17"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "29 CFR § 785.17 - On-call time."
title_number: 29
title_name: "Labor"
section_number: "785.17"
section_name: "On-call time."
chapter_name: "WAGE AND HOUR DIVISION, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR"
subchapter_number: "B"
subchapter_name: "STATEMENTS OF GENERAL POLICY OR INTERPRETATION NOT DIRECTLY RELATED TO REGULATIONS"
part_number: "785"
part_name: "HOURS WORKED"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "52 Stat. 1060; 29 U.S.C. 201-219; 29 U.S.C. 254. Pub. L. 104-188, 100 Stat. 1755."
regulatory_source: "26 FR 190, Jan. 11, 1961, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "785"
---
# 785.17 On-call time.
An employee who is required to remain on call on the employer's premises or so close thereto that he cannot use the time effectively for his own purposes is working while “on call”. An employee who is not required to remain on the employer's premises but is merely required to leave word at his home or with company officials where he may be reached is not working while on call. (*Armour & Co.* v. *Wantock,* 323 U.S. 126 (1944); *Handler* v. *Thrasher,* 191 F. 2d 120 (C.A. 10, 1951); *Walling* v. *Bank of Waynesboro, Georgia,* 61 F. Supp. 384 (S.D. Ga. 1945))