---
kind: "section"
citation: "5 U.S.C. § 5926"
title: "5"
title_heading: "Government Organization and Employees"
number: "5926"
heading: "Compensatory time off at certain posts in foreign areas"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/5/5926"
units:
  - "Part III — Employees"
  - "Subpart D — Pay and Allowances"
  - "Chapter 59 — Allowances"
  - "Subchapter III — Overseas Differentials and Allowances"
---

# §5926. Compensatory time off at certain posts in foreign areas

- (a) Under regulations prescribed pursuant to this subchapter, and notwithstanding subchapter V of [chapter 55](/usc/5/chptIII/sptD/ch55.md) of this title or any other law, the head of an [agency](/usc/5/5921.md?p=2) may, on request of an [employee](/usc/5/5921.md?p=3) serving in a [foreign area](/usc/5/5921.md?p=6)—
  - (1) at an isolated post performing functions required to be maintained on a substantially continuous basis, grant the [employee](/usc/5/5921.md?p=3) compensatory time off for an equal amount of time spent in regularly scheduled overtime work; or
  - (2) at a post in a locality that customarily observes irregular hours of work or where other special conditions are present, in order to cope with those special circumstances, grant the [employee](/usc/5/5921.md?p=3) compensatory time off for an equal amount of time spent in regularly scheduled overtime work for use during the [pay](/usc/5/7511.md?p=a-4) period in which it is earned.

  Credit for compensatory time off earned under [paragraph (2)](#a-2) shall not form the basis for any additional compensation.

- (b) Compensatory time earned under this section shall be for use only while the [employee](/usc/5/5921.md?p=3) is assigned to the post where it is earned. Any such compensatory time not used at the time the [employee](/usc/5/5921.md?p=3) is reassigned to another post shall be forfeited.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 95–426, title IV, § 411(a), Oct. 7, 1978, 92 Stat. 980.)