compensatory time

noun

variants or comp time

: paid time off given to an employee instead of overtime pay in compensation for extra hours of work

The proposed law does not mandate that employers offer compensatory time, but gives them the option to make it available to their employees. The bill also gives the employee the right to reject compensatory time in lieu of overtime pay if she prefers to take the money.

—Susan McHenry, Ms., May/June 1997

The President is proposing incentives for employers to offer flex-time arrangements that would allow workers to work longer hours so they could accrue comp time and use it at their discretion.

—John F. Dickerson et al., Time, 9 Aug. 2004

Word History

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined above

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