Compensatory Off (Comp-Off)

What is Compensatory Off (Comp-Off)?

Comp-Off is the leave you earn when the company asks you to work on a non-working day, a Sunday release, a Saturday client demo, or a public holiday like Republic Day. Instead of paying overtime cash, the employer credits one paid day off that you can take later. Most policies require pre-approval before the extra workday and a written request to convert it into Comp-Off. There's usually an expiry window of 30, 60, or 90 days, after which the credit lapses. Comp-Off rules vary by state Shops & Establishment Act. Some states mandate a paid day off if an employee works on a weekly off. Comp-Off generally isn't encashable and shouldn't be confused with overtime pay, which is governed separately under the Factories Act.

Example

Rahul works on Sunday for a production deployment. His manager approves Comp-Off, which he must use within 60 days. He takes off the following Friday to balance the extra day.

How Compensatory Off (Comp-Off) is used

Engineering, IT support, and operations teams use Comp-Off heavily for weekend deployments and on-call rotations. HR tracks expiry dates to prevent forgotten credits.

Compensatory Off (Comp-Off) FAQs

Can I encash unused comp-off?

Most policies don't allow Comp-Off encashment. The credit simply lapses if not used within the window. A few companies allow conversion to EL.

How long do I have to use comp-off?

Typical expiry is 30 to 90 days from the date earned. Check your leave policy for the exact window.

Is comp-off the same as overtime pay?

No. Comp-Off is a paid day off in exchange for extra work. Overtime is cash payment at 2x the regular hourly rate, applicable mainly under the Factories Act.