offduty

Offduty is an adjective, adverb, or noun referring to a person who is not currently performing duties or is outside the hours of official work. In common usage the forms off duty (two words) and off-duty (hyphenated) are preferred; offduty as a single word is unusual in formal writing but may appear in branding or informal text.

In workplace contexts, being off duty means the person is not on shift or scheduled to work; responsibilities are typically paused, and the individual is not expected to perform job tasks unless explicitly designated as on-call or asked to assist due to emergencies. In public safety and service professions, off-duty status can affect authority and obligations: officers or responders may retain certain privileges or be subject to department policies about conduct while off duty. In other domains such as sports, entertainment, or media, off duty denotes the absence of active assignments.

Policy and legal considerations: employers often regulate on-call requirements, contactability during off-duty hours, and the off-duty use of company property or information; privacy and labor laws govern working time, rest breaks, and fatigue management. The concept of off-duty time also intersects with burnout prevention, work-life balance, and the distinction between personal and professional life. The term is frequently contrasted with on-duty or on-call status and with standby or emergency duty arrangements.