Yes, from a legal perspective you can combine, within the same company, a full-time contract (Vollzeit) with an additional part-time contract (Teilzeit), provided you strictly comply with the following conditions:

Maximum weekly working hours

Under § 3 of the German Working Hours Act (Arbeitszeitgesetz – ArbZG), you may generally work up to 48 hours per week.
A temporary extension up to 60 hours per week is allowed, provided that the extra hours are compensated within a reference period of six months or 24 weeks (WALHALLA Fachverlag).

Example:
If your Vollzeit contract covers 40 hours per week, you may add a Teilzeit contract with up to 8 additional hours per week without violating the law (Finanztip).

Secondary employment (Nebentätigkeit) and notifying the employer

Your employer may not impose a total blanket ban on Nebentätigkeit (secondary employment), as this would conflict with your constitutional freedom of occupation under Art. 12 GG.
However, the employer may require that you:

• notify them in advance, and

• obtain approval if this is stipulated in your employment contract or in a collective agreement (Tarifvertrag), especially in cases of conflicts of interest or where the side job might impair your performance in your main role (Lexware).

In practice, you should always send a written notification to your first employer before you start the second position within the same company.

Social insurance and taxes

• Your social insurance contributions (pension, unemployment, health, long-term care) are calculated on the basis of your combined income from both contracts.

• For tax purposes, income from the secondary position may be treated as an additional employment under tax class VI (Steuerklasse VI) if it is on top of your main employment (Hauptbeschäftigung). Both incomes are then combined in your annual tax return.

Respecting rest periods

You must strictly observe statutory rest periods:

• A minimum of 11 consecutive hours of rest between the end of one shift and the start of the next (§ 5 ArbZG).

• Compliance with daily break rules during work:

  • at least 30 minutes break after working more than 6 hours,

  • at least 45 minutes break after working more than 9 hours (Payroll Germany).

Practical tips

• Check your contract carefully for any Nebentätigkeit clause and its exact requirements.

• Keep a record of your working hours for both contracts and retain copies of your payslips (Gehaltsabrechnungen).

• Make sure that the part-time job does not impair the quality of your performance in your full-time role.

• If your total hours begin to exceed legal limits, request an adjustment to your schedule or a reduction of your Teilzeit hours.

By following these rules, you can legally combine a Vollzeit and a Teilzeit contract within the same company, with your employer’s consent, while safeguarding your rights and protecting your health and professional safety.

The authors and editors of this website strive to provide accurate information based on intensive research and multiple sources. Nevertheless, errors may occur or some information may not be fully confirmed. Therefore, please consider the information in this article as an initial point of reference and always contact the competent authorities or professional advisers for binding and up-to-date information.