On average, employeesin Germany have some of the shortest working hours in Europe. Couple this with high productivity levels, and it seems that Germans strike an ideal work-life balance. The page looks at working hours, overtime and related regulations in Germany.
Full-time work in Germany
The average working week in Germany is between 36 and 40 hours. The majority of full-time jobs in Germany are seven or eight hours a day, five days a week, with an hour or 30 minutes’ break at lunchtime.
Some companies may operate a longer working week, but compensate their employees with a higher salary or additional annual holiday leave. Self-employed workers often work more than 48 hours per week.
Part-time work in Germany
Anyone working in Germany for less than 30 hours per week is considered a part-time employee. Once you have been at your company for six months, you have the right to request a reduction to your weekly working hours (as long as the company employs more than 15 people).
Part-time work is becoming more popular, as freelancing and job-sharing become more prevalent. The generous provisionin Germany for parental allowancealso combines well with part-time work. In 2018, Germany’s biggest metalwork union won a legal battle to be granted the right to a 28-hour week.
Legal limits to working hours in Germany
In Germany there are strict legal limits on working hours: you are not permitted to work more than eight hours per day. The working week runs from Monday to Saturday, and employees must not work more than 48 hours per week. This can be extended to 10hours per day, if within six months (or 24 weeks) the overall average working time does not exceed eight hours per day.
Work on Sundays and public holidays is largely prohibited, except for workers in the service industry. Work on Sundays must be compensated by corresponding time off within the following two weeks.
If you work between six and nine hours you are entitled to a 30-minute break, which you can also split into two breaks of 15 minutes. If you work more than nine hours, you are entitled to a 45-minute break after six hours of work. You must receive a break of more than 11 hours between work shifts.
Working overtime in Germany
Overtime work must also conform to the maximum working hours specified above (i.e. no more than 60 hours a week, averaging out to 48 hours over a 6-month period). Overtime will usually be compensated with time off in lieu, although some companies will pay for any overtime hours worked.
Your right to compensation for hours worked overtime will be specified in your employment contract. Some companies maintain that a small amount of overtime is a normal part of the job and will not provide additional remuneration.
If you have any concerns with the amount of (unpaid) overtime you are working, it is best to speak with your employer. You might also consider consulting with a lawyer.
Flexible hours in Germany
Many companies in Germany will allow you to work flexibly rather than sticking rigidly to the standard working day. This might include:
- Working from home
- Working longer days in exchange for days off
- Time off in lieu
FAQs
Standard hours in Germany
Monday to Saturday are considered the legal working days, but most employees typically work from Monday to Friday. Workdays usually start between 8-9 am and finish between 5-6 pm.
Why German work fewer hours and produce more questions and answers? ›
Whereas an American would say, “It would be great if you could get this to me by 3pm,” a German would say, “I need this by 3pm”. When a German is at work, they are focused and diligent, which in turn leads to higher productivity in a shorter period of time.
Is it legal to work 12 hours a day in Germany? ›
Work Days and Hours
The workweek is defined as the 6 days of Monday-Saturday. The working hours during normal workdays may not exceed eight hours and therefore 48 hours per week. The workday can be extended under certain circ*mstances to ten hours. Night work is only allowed for eight hours per working day.
Does Germany work 40 hours a week? ›
Working hours are very flexible in Germany. Under German labor law employees are allowed to work eight hours per day (48 hours per week). Saturday is considered to be a normal working day. With a five-day week, the permitted weekly working time totals 40 hours.
Does Germany have a 4 day work week? ›
In early February, 31 companies in Germany began a “four-day” work week pilot.
How long do Germans work a day? ›
Working Hours in Germany
Legal working days in Germany are from Monday to Saturday, but for most workers, a standard work week is from 8 or 9 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday.
Why do Germans work so few hours? ›
I am relieved some Quorans already pointed out that the number of working hours being low is due to the fact that Germans typically have access to up to 30 days of paid leave (24 days are the minimum by law — 2 days per month you work at the company).
Is it illegal to work more than 8 hours a day in Germany? ›
Legal limits to working hours in Germany
The working week runs from Monday to Saturday, and employees must not work more than 48 hours per week. This can be extended to 10 hours per day, if within six months (or 24 weeks) the overall average working time does not exceed eight hours per day.
Why Germany has shortage of workers? ›
Several factors contribute to Germany's labor shortage. One is the growing demographic imbalance, with over a fifth of the German population aged over 65. Another is that there are simply not enough qualified professionals for many professions.
Is it illegal to work on Sunday in Germany? ›
The German workweek, unlike its American counterpart, is tightly regulated. For example, the Hours of Work Act stipulates that no one can work on Sundays and public holidays. Also, Germans can only work five or six days a week for a maximum of 48 hours and no more than eight hours daily.
Your shifts have to have pre-scheduled breaks of at least 30 minutes if you are working 6-9 hours or 45 minutes when working more. So most Germans work 40h weeks (5 weekdays with 8 hours of work and 30 minutes of lunch break each day). You are not allowed to skip the break.
Are sick days legal in Germany? ›
It's okay to take sick days
On average, German employees take 11 sick days per year. You can take as many sick days as you need, even during your probation period. Your employer can't punish you because you take sick days. If you take more than 30 sick days per year, you could get fired.
Is lunch break paid in Germany? ›
Labour law prohibits taking the break at the end of the day's work in order to leave earlier. Breaks are not considered working time and are therefore not paid.
How much is Germany's basic salary? ›
As of 2024, the minimum wage in Germany is EUR 12.41 per hour gross. This effectively means a monthly minimum of EUR 2,151 gross (based on a 40-hour work week).
Do Germans work 5 days a week? ›
No, your employer has to actively stop you from this in germany. The Arbeitszeitgeseztz is very clear in regards to maximum permittable time per day: 8 hours of work time on at most 6 days a week (Monday - Saturday) are allowed under normal circ*mstances.
Does Germany have a 32 hour work week? ›
Germany is already home to one of the shortest average working weeks in Europe. According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), the average working week is 34.2 hours.
Which country has the longest working hours? ›
United Arab Emirates
UAE tops the list with the working hours per week for an employed person being 52.6 hours.
Which country has the lowest working hours? ›
Kiribati in the Pacific was the country with the lowest average weekly working hours per employee in 2022, with the most recent value showing that the population of Kiribati worked on average less than 28 hours per week. Second came Vanuatu at nearly 29 hours per week, with Micronesia following in third.
How much does Germany pay per hour? ›
The minimum wage has been revised in Germany, with effect from 01 January 2024. The minimum wage has increased from €12.00 to €12.41 per hour.
