How Should We Handle Comp-off Policy Changes for Engineering Services? Seeking Your Advice

Dear All,

Guidance on Comp-off Policy

I need your guidance on the Comp-off policy.

We practice the following procedure for Comp Off: If any employee works a full day (8 hours) (our shift is 9 hours) on a weekly off or paid holiday, we adjust their extra work against leave (leave should be taken within 30 days). If he/she has not taken any leave, the comp off will be lapsed.

Proposed Changes in Policy

Recently, I received a proposal as per the following: My company is entering engineering services:

1) A reduction in working hours from 8 hours to 6 hours. This is applicable for engineering services companies.
2) The leave sandwich policy should not be applicable for Comp Off. If an employee takes sick leave on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, has a weekly off, and on Monday applies for comp off, will the sandwich leave policy be applicable or not?

Please advise.

Thank you in advance.

Actually, if your company operates with a day shift, you can have employees work for 8 hours instead of having different shifts like first, second, or night shifts. In that case, they would work for 7.5 hours and receive an additional 0.5 hours for lunch. Any extra hours can be compensated as overtime or given as compensatory time off. The decision on this matter is up to your management and your workers. 

If your location is a factory, the Comp Off rule you are currently following is illegal under the Factories Act. Please refer to Sections 52 to 56 for the actual requirements.

Compensatory leave is not impacted by shortening the hours of work. The employee will still be eligible for the same compensatory leave.

The sandwich rule is correct, by the way. It is unfair to include the weekly off if he takes compensatory time off later.