(in German)

In Germany, there is a statutory obligation for employees to take rest breaks of at least thirty minutes if their daily working time is longer than six hours. However, analyses of the Working Time Survey conducted in 2021 by the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (Bundesanstalt für Arbeitsschutz und Arbeitsmedizin, BAuA) reveal rest breaks are frequently missed at work by 31 per cent of dependent employees. Above all, rest breaks tend to be missed frequently where working (time) conditions and organisational characteristics are found that correlate with significant degrees of work intensification and extensification. The failure to take rest breaks is also associated with higher occurrence of health problems, somewhat lower work satisfaction, and stronger intentions to change employer.

Please download the complete publication "Missed Rest Breaks in Germany - Prevalence and Impacts on Employees’ Recovery, Health, and Satisfaction" (in German only).