How comp off is earned and used
An employee works on a Sunday or a festival holiday because of a deadline, an audit or an event. Once the manager confirms the work, a comp off is credited: a full day for a full day's work, and often half a day for a shorter spell. The employee then applies to use it like any other leave. Most policies set an expiry, such as 30, 60 or 90 days, because a comp off saved for a year defeats the purpose of giving rest.
Comp off versus overtime pay
Comp off gives time back; overtime gives money. Which one applies depends on the employee's category and the policy. Where the extra work counts as overtime under the working hours rules, it is paid at twice the ordinary wage rate, so check your obligations before offering comp off in its place. Comp off fits best for staff who are not paid overtime, such as managers and professionals, or where the employee chooses it.
Writing a clear comp off policy
A comp off policy needs to answer a handful of questions before the first credit is given, or every case turns into a negotiation. In ZeniaHR, comp off is earned from worked weekly offs and holidays, granted by HR and lapsed on expiry. The overtime policy can also pay out as comp off, at 4 hours for half a day and 8 hours for a full day, and employees see their comp-off credits with expiry in self-service.
- Who is eligible, by grade or role
- Minimum hours worked for a half-day and a full-day credit
- Who approves the credit and by when
- The expiry period and what happens to unused credits
- Whether comp off can be combined with other leave
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What is the full form of comp off?
Comp off stands for compensatory off. It is a day or half day of paid leave given in return for working on a day that was meant to be off, such as a weekly off or a holiday. It is also written as C-off or CO in attendance registers and leave systems.
Can comp off be encashed?
Usually not. Comp off is meant to give the employee rest in place of the day they worked, so most policies let unused credits lapse after the expiry period instead of paying them out. Some companies do pay for unused comp off at exit, or let the employee choose pay instead of time off. Check your company's comp off policy.
How long is comp off valid?
Validity is set by company policy. Expiry periods of 30 to 90 days after the credit are common, and some companies require comp off to be used within the same month or quarter. Once it expires, the credit lapses. The leave record should show each credit with its own expiry date so employees can plan.