The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) published new rules Monday on how federal employees can get compensatory time off for religious observances that are not part of a federal holiday.
Specifically, OPM’s ruling on the Federal Register said:
“…permits an employee whose personal religious beliefs require the abstention from work during certain periods of time to elect to engage in overtime work and earn a special form of compensatory time off to make up for the time lost in meeting those personal religious requirements. Religious compensatory time off differs from other forms of compensatory time off in that the sole purpose is to adjust an employee’s work schedule to accommodate a religious observance.
“The employee earns religious compensatory time off by spending an equal amount of time in overtime work before and/or after taking time from the employee’s scheduled tour of duty to meet personal religious requirements. Hours worked to earn religious compensatory time off provide a time off credit in lieu of any pay that would otherwise be payable for that work.”
The final rule addresses comments and clarifies provisions on employee coverage, employee and agency responsibilities, scheduling time to earn and use religious compensatory time off, and accumulation and documentation.
Prior to issuing the ruling, OPM received comments from eight federal agencies, two religious organizations (including one submission on behalf of 19 other religious and policy groups), and four individuals.
To read the full ruling, go here.