Is it allowed to work more than 8 hours a day?

According to the German Working Hours Act (Arbeitszeitgesetz – ArbZG) (§ 3 para. 1), the regular daily working time on normal working days may not exceed eight hours (Gesetze im Internet).

However, by way of exception, it is permitted to extend this to up to ten hours per day, provided that the average daily working time does not exceed eight hours over a period of six months or twenty-four weeks (§ 3 para. 2) (Kanzlei Hasselbach).

In short:

Basic limit: 8 hours per day.

Exception: Up to 10 hours, on condition that the excess hours are later compensated so that the average daily working time remains at 8 hours during the review period.

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