Comp off, or more formally compensatory off, is compensation to the employee in lieu of the extra hours worked by him on a holiday or a non-working day such as weekends. The employee can now take another working day off because they worked on a non-working day. This trade-off is what we call a comp-off.
Every company has its policy on how it rewards its employees with a compensatory off. And they usually mention this detail in the employee handbook.
Most employees work extra because of some emergency at their workplace. In such instances, the employer extends its gratitude and appreciation by allowing the employee a comp off.
Can Comp Off Expire?
A crucial detail about compensatory off is that it is valid only for a few days depending on your company’s policy.
Yes, say if you worked on 2nd October. Then you can avail the respective comp off until one month or whatever period your company has set.
Some companies like to stretch the comp off period to a few months. In contrast, most keep it until one month.
What Are The Rules Governing Compensatory Off?
One of the primary requirements of availing a comp off is that the employee must have come for a valid reason. If the employee comes just because they didn’t know about the holiday, attendance will not be considered for an off.
To avoid such confusion and ignorance scenarios, your company must adopt an HR Software that allows you to set a holiday calendar. A holiday calendar includes all the holiday types- restricted, floating, gazetted, observance, and season.
So, getting back to the comp off rules:
#1: When An Employee Works On Weekly Off Or Public Holiday
Suppose the employee is attending office for valid reasons, on a public holiday such as Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti, or Republic Day, etc. In that case, the employee can ask for a subsequent compensatory off.
Similarly, if the employee attends office on a weekend or any other compulsory holiday, they are again entitled to comp off.
#2: When An Employee In Attending A Work Tour On Weekly Off Or Public Holiday
If the employee is on a work tour and meeting clients on a weekly off or public holiday, he is entitled to half a day’s comp off.
But it is essential to know that off is not given for the days spent travelling. An off is provided only when you are meeting clients or working.
Another point of interest is that government rules allow employees to adjust comp offs with leaves. The employee can take a comp off along with a leave.
Did You Know Legally, You Cannot Work More Than 7 Days?
The Indian Labor Laws state that you should not work more than seven days a week. The Factory’s Act marks 48 hours of work in one week and two days off.
Furthermore, employees who work more than that are entitled to get overtime at double their standard rate if they work more than 48 hours.
Why Was Compensatory Off Created?
Employees give their best to the employer who builds a relationship with them—an employer who understands their grievances and rewards and appreciates them for their accomplishments.
Comp off is a tool to achieve the same. It touches both ends. It understands the employee grievances of overworking, less salary, and health issues arising from overworking.
On the other hand, it appreciates their efforts in going the extra mile for the company by investing more hours.
Some companies show their appreciation by giving the employee a day off. While some others also allow the employees to encash these extra hours.
What Is The Process Of Availing Comp Off?
The employee first submits the request for off, mentioning the period they want the leave for.
The concerned officer matches the employee’s overtime hours and date against their request from the information in the registers. They also check if the comp off has not yet expired according to the company’s policies.
If everything looks OK, the leave is awarded to the employee.
But there are many loopholes with this traditional approach. The most crucial being inconsistent and faulty data. The second is the time required for processing.
HR Tech like HCM Suite allows you to take care of comp offs effortlessly and accurately, keeping everybody, i.e., your HR and employees, happy! They also incorporate holiday calendars for even less confusion.