Overtime is part of the workplace for only a minority
Overtime hours are part of the daily work routine for only a minority of employees in Germany. According to the Federal Statistical Office, roughly one in eight worked more hours than agreed in their contract last year, based on responses from the Microcensus.
Around 4.6 million people worked overtime. This represents 12 percent of the approximately 39.3 million employees.
Overtime hours are usually credited to a work-time account, allowing them to be balanced out later as leisure time. 71 percent of those who worked overtime cited this method. Around 20 percent, or more than 900,000 people, reported working unpaid overtime. 17 percent said they were paid for their overtime. Mixed responses were also possible.
For 40 percent, overtime consisted of no more than five hours per week. However, nearly one in five (19 percent) worked more than 15 overtime hours per week. Overtime is most common in financial and insurance services, and least common in the hospitality industry.
The data reveals that only a minority of employees in Germany, specifically 12%, worked overtime last year. Despite this, more than 900,000 people reported doing unpaid overtime, representing a significant portion of those who worked extra hours.
