Compensatory Off Entitlement for Employees Traveling on Holidays: Insights & Policies

Dear All,

Our organization had an off day on the 1st of January, but a few employees from my organization were flying back to Mumbai after attending a business function on the same day. Are they entitled to a compensatory day off?

Thanks

In my view, they should be given compensatory time off since you declared a holiday on 1st January, and they were traveling for duty on the same day.

B. Saikumar
Mumbai
09930532927

Well, if they arrived in the morning of the 1st of January, you need not give a compensatory day off. If they were traveling for the entire day, you may consider giving one.

It depends! Many companies have a policy where they only provide compensatory time off if the employee is working (and not traveling) on a holiday or weekend. This is quite debatable, but yes, many companies follow this practice. Some companies even have a policy of compensatory time off against expenses billed, which can seem odd.

If your company truly cares about its employees, then you should consider these aspects.

Thank you, Saikumar and Hiral, for your inputs. Actually, we are in the nightclub industry. The employees had gone for a New Year's opening, and they were just returning on the 1st. They landed here in Mumbai around 5 in the evening, but that was due to flight availability and not because of any work. Still, are they entitled to a comp day off?

Hi,

Sure, they are entitled because they were delayed due to the flight availability. As you say, they landed only at 5 pm on a holiday.

Regards,
Anita