Not at work -- ears oddly tender! (5)
I believe the answer is:
offer
'tender' is the definition.
(I know that tender can be written as offer)
'not at work ears oddly' is the wordplay.
'not at work' becomes 'off' (I've seen this in another clue).
'oddly' means one should take alternating letters (letters in the odd-numbered positions are used).
The alternate letters of 'ears' are 'er'.
'off'+'er'='OFFER'
(Other definitions for offer that I've seen before include "Proposal; reduced price" , "Make available for sale" , "Tender, make bid for" , "Proposition" , "Pay increase" .)