German rest period check 2026: review shift changes
Enter the end of one shift and the start of the next. The check shows whether the 11-hour rest period under § 5 ArbZG is met, with notes on 10-hour exceptions, collective rules, authority approvals and young workers.
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- No sign-up
- Your entries are never stored
Shift sequence
The check assumes the next plausible start within 24 hours.
Result
Critical warning. The regular rest period is not met and the check does not identify a viable exception indicator.
Calculated rest period
8:00 h
between 22:00 and 06:00; regular requirement: 11:00 h
- Minimum duration
- 11:00 h
- Regular earliest start
- from 09:00 next day
- Missing vs standard rule
- 3:00 h
Assessment
- Standard rule: at least 11 uninterrupted hours of rest under § 5 ArbZG.
- Shift sequence, compensation and legal basis should be documented clearly.
- Below 10 hours is especially critical; standard 10h exceptions are generally not enough.
Next steps
- Move the next shift later or assign a different person.
- Do not replace missing rest with general employee consent.
- If this repeats, adjust the shift pattern itself.
Content reviewed on 9 August 2026 against ArbZG, JArbSchG and BAuA guidance. Not legal advice.
How the check works
Two shifts are enough to surface the most common scheduling issue
The check calculates the rest period from the end of the first shift to the start of the next shift. If the next start is earlier on the clock than the shift end, the next calendar day is assumed.
For adult employees, the standard German rule is at least 11 uninterrupted hours of rest under § 5 ArbZG. For young workers, the check marks 12 hours of daily free time under § 13 JArbSchG.
Exceptions are not cleared automatically. The check marks them for review because sector, compensation, collective agreement, works agreement or authority approval must fit the individual case.
Common shift changes
These constellations create the most practical warnings
Late to early
A late shift ending at 22:00 or 23:00 followed by an early shift at 06:00 looks harmless, but often falls short of 11 hours.
10-hour exception
In certain sectors, § 5 (2) ArbZG may allow a reduction to 10 hours, but only with timely compensation to at least 12 hours.
Young workers under 18
Young workers do not follow the 11-hour ArbZG standard; they need at least 12 hours of daily free time under the youth protection rules.
Night and shift work
Night-shift sequences need more than minimum rest. German law also requires humane design according to occupational science.
Automatic in scheduling
Shiftdesk warns about critical shift changes before the schedule goes out
While you schedule, Shiftdesk checks rest periods, breaks and daily limits directly in the roster. Late-to-early conflicts are visible before employees receive the plan.
Free template for clean working-time records
If you review shift changes manually, you need clean records. Get the 2026 timesheet / working-time record template as Excel + PDF.
Rather not do the math yourself anymore?
Shiftdesk checks rest periods while you build the schedule and connects scheduling, time tracking and records. Conflicts surface before they reach daily operations.
No credit card required · No risk
FAQ
Common questions about rest periods and shift changes
How much rest is required between two shifts in Germany?
When can 10 hours of rest be possible?
Is a collective agreement always enough?
What applies to young workers under 18?
Can the supervisory authority allow shorter rest periods?
What happens when rest periods are breached?
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Orientation check for Germany. Not legal advice and not a binding compliance certificate. Collective agreements, works agreements, authority approvals, on-call work, maternity protection and youth protection can create additional requirements.