---
kind: "section"
citation: "5 U.S.C. § 5550a"
title: "5"
title_heading: "Government Organization and Employees"
number: "5550a"
heading: "Compensatory time off for religious observances"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/5/5550a"
units:
  - "Part III — Employees"
  - "Subpart D — Pay and Allowances"
  - "Chapter 55 — Pay Administration"
  - "Subchapter V — Premium Pay"
---

# §5550a. Compensatory time off for religious observances

- (a) Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Office of Personnel Management shall prescribe regulations providing for work schedules under which an [employee](/usc/5/5541.md?p=2) whose personal religious beliefs require the abstention from work during certain periods of time, may elect to engage in overtime work for time lost for meeting those religious requirements. Any [employee](/usc/5/5541.md?p=2) who so elects such overtime work shall be granted equal compensatory time off from his scheduled tour of duty (in lieu of overtime pay) for such religious reasons, notwithstanding any other provision of law.
- (b) In the case of any [agency](/usc/5/5541.md?p=1) described in subparagraphs (C) through (G) of [section 5541(1) of this title](/usc/5/5541.md?p=1), the head of such [agency](/usc/5/5541.md?p=1) (in lieu of the Office) shall prescribe the regulations referred to in [subsection (a)](#a) of this section.
- (c) Regulations under this section may provide for such exceptions as may be necessary to efficiently carry out the mission of the [agency](/usc/5/5541.md?p=1) or [agencies](/usc/5/5541.md?p=1) involved.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 95–390, title IV, § 401(a), Sept. 29, 1978, 92 Stat. 762; amended Pub. L. 96–54, § 2(a)(14), (15), Aug. 14, 1979, 93 Stat. 382.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The date of enactment of this section, referred to in subsec. (a), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 95–390, which was approved Sept. 29, 1978.

### Amendments

1979—Subsecs. (a), (b). Pub. L. 96–54 substituted “Office of Personnel Management” for “Civil Service Commission” and “Office” for “Commission”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1979 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 96–54 effective July 12, 1979, see section 2(b) of Pub. L. 96–54, set out as a note under section 305 of this title.