Standby worker

A standby worker is an extra worker who is booked or on call to cover a no-show, a late call-off or a sudden surge in volume. For large events and critical shifts, planners often book one or two extra workers per crew and release them if everyone checks in, or keep them for tasks like breaks and cleanup. Whether standbys are billed, and for how long, depends on the agreement. For a big crew, a standby costs less than the gap a no-show leaves.