Germany

Must my employer record my working hours?

10 hours
Max daily working time
8 hours
Avg. daily limit (6 months)
24 weeks
Averaging period
2022
BAG ruling year
The Short Answer

Yes, your employer must record your daily working hours in Germany, as required by law and confirmed by the Federal Labour Court.

What the Law Says

German law mandates that employers keep accurate records of employees’ daily working hours — not just for overtime or special groups, but for all employees.

The obligation stems from the German Working Hours Act (Arbeitszeitgesetz – ArbZG) and occupational safety law (Arbeitsschutzgesetz – ArbSchG). While ArbZG § 3 sets limits on daily and average working time, the actual recording duty is rooted in § 3(2) No. 1 ArbSchG, which requires employers to implement measures ensuring compliance with working time rules.

This includes maintaining a reliable, objective, accessible, and verifiable system for recording the start, end, and duration of daily working time for every employee — regardless of contract type, seniority, or whether they work remotely.

Statutory Text

Die werktägliche Arbeitszeit der Arbeitnehmer darf acht Stunden nicht überschreiten. Sie kann auf bis zu zehn Stunden nur verlängert werden, wenn innerhalb von sechs Kalendermonaten oder innerhalb von 24 Wochen im Durchschnitt acht Stunden werktäglich nicht überschritten werden.

— ArbZG § 3 — Working Time Act

What Courts Have Said

Germany’s highest labour court has confirmed that the duty to record working hours is mandatory and applies universally — implementing binding EU case law.

BAG 1 ABR 22/21
Bundesarbeitsgericht, 1. Senat · 2022

The Federal Labour Court ruled that employers must introduce a system for recording daily working time for all employees, based on § 3(2) No. 1 ArbSchG and the ECJ’s CCOO judgment. This applies even to managerial staff and remote workers.

What to Do

1

Ask your employer in writing whether they maintain a compliant working time recording system.

2

If no system exists or it’s incomplete (e.g., missing start/end times), file a written request for implementation.

3

Escalate to the works council (if one exists) or the local labour inspectorate (Gewerbeaufsichtsamt).

4

Keep your own log of working hours as evidence — courts accept personal records if employer records are missing.

Sources

statuteArbZG § 3 — Working Time ActcaseBAG 1 ABR 22/21 — Federal Labour Court ruling on time recording

Related Questions

What are the maximum working hours per day?Am I entitled to breaks during my work shift?What are my rights if I work overtime?How many vacation days am I entitled to per year?

Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: June 2026.