---
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"
date: "2026-07-12"
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](/usc/5/5402.md?p=3) 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](/usc/5/7511.md?p=a-4)) 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](/usc/5/5402.md?p=3)) 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.