German Working Hours Act (ArbZG) basics

What does the ArbZG regulate?

The German Working Hours Act (ArbZG) sets the framework for working hours, breaks, and rest periods. It applies to almost all dependently employed people in Germany. Shiftdesk automatically checks schedules against the most important provisions as a plausibility aid.

The most important sections

• §3 ArbZG — Maximum working hours: a maximum of 8 hours per working day. An extension to 10 hours is possible if an average of 8 hours is maintained over a 6-month period.
• §4 ArbZG — Rest breaks: from 6 hours of work, at least 30 minutes of break, from 9 hours at least 45 minutes. Breaks may be split into blocks of 15 minutes each.
• §5 ArbZG — Rest period: at least 11 hours of uninterrupted rest period between two shifts.
• §9 ArbZG — Sunday rest: Sunday and public holiday work is generally prohibited, with exceptions for example in hospitality, care, and transport.

What Shiftdesk checks automatically

Rule	Validation
Daily maximum working hours (§3)	Warning from 8 h, error from 10 h
Break requirement (§4)	Automatic deduction + notice when a break is missing
Rest period (§5)	Conflict detection when < 11 h between shifts
Sunday work (§9)	Marked in the schedule, exception flag per industry

Potential issues are shown in the compliance checker under /dashboard/compliance.

Note

When in doubt, consult a lawyer or tax advisor — Shiftdesk does not replace legal advice. Collective agreements and works agreements may contain differing rules. Responsibility for compliance remains with the employer.