Fewer employees are putting in extra hours - Reduction in Overtime Employment Levels
In Germany, overtime work remains a significant aspect of the work environment, with around 4.4 million people regularly putting in extra hours, according to the latest statistics from the Microcensus, an annual household survey conducted by statistical offices.
The financial and insurance services sector sees the most overtime, with approximately one in nine workers clocking more hours than agreed in their contracts in the past year. This figure represents a decrease of around 200,000 from the previous year, indicating a possible trend towards a more balanced work-life balance.
Men are more likely to work overtime than women, with 13% of men doing so compared to 10% of women. However, it's important to note that mixed responses were also possible in the survey.
The hospitality industry, on the other hand, sees the least amount of overtime work.
When it comes to managing overtime, working time accounts are the most common method, with 71% of those who work overtime using this method. This approach allows for the accumulation of extra hours, which can be taken as time off at a later date.
One in seven (15%) workers who do overtime in Germany works more than 15 overtime hours per week. Conversely, 45% of those who work overtime do so for no more than five hours per week.
While 16% of those who work overtime are directly compensated for their extra hours, a significant number still work unpaid overtime. In the previous year, 20% reported unpaid overtime, but this figure has decreased, suggesting a move towards fairer compensation for extra work.
However, the 2024 Microcensus does not provide specific trends regarding overtime work in Germany for the current year. For detailed statistics on overtime work, you might want to consult the German Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) or other relevant sources that provide data on employment and work conditions. The GENESIS-Online database from Destatis could be a useful resource for such data, as it houses detailed employment statistics, including those related to employment accounts and conditions.
Recent news has highlighted the "wahre Ausmaß der Überstunden in Deutschland" (the true extent of overtime in Germany), indicating that overtime remains a notable aspect of the work environment. As the discussion around work-related issues in Germany continues, it will be interesting to see how overtime trends evolve in the coming years.
The community policy could include initiatives to encourage health-and-wellness in the workplace, such as promoting fitness-and-exercise and providing resources for workplace-wellness, to counteract the effects of overtime work that are prevalent in many sectors, including the financial and insurance services sector, where one in nine workers are currently doing overtime. Vocational training programs could also be implemented to optimize work efficiency, reducing the need for overtime work. For instance, vocational training in time management and work organization could be beneficial. This approach aligns with the trend observed in the 2020 Microcensus, which indicated a decrease in overtime hours in the financial and insurance services sector.
