The on-call experience for software engineers at Grafana Labs, as shared by senior engineers Michael Mandrus and Owen Smallwood, is not as daunting as commonly perceived, and can even be rewarding and enjoyable. Both engineers, who joined Grafana Labs in 2022 and began their on-call rotations in 2023, describe the initial challenges of adapting to quick decision-making and learning new tools but emphasize the importance of collaboration and communication during these shifts. They highlight that the role is more about maintaining the system’s functionality than knowing everything, and the experience is enriched by the support of a collaborative on-call community. The engineers also discuss practical strategies such as taking breaks, customizing alert notifications, and seeking help when needed. Grafana Labs encourages shadowing programs and team ownership of projects, which has shifted their on-call culture toward more integrated team responsibility. The experience has allowed them to gain deeper insights into the infrastructure and environment of their applications, contributing to their growth as engineers.