Government proposes plan to potentially extend workdays to 12 hours.
Government Plans for Extended Workdays Under Scrutiny
The Hans Böckler Foundation's Hugo Sinzheimer Institute for Labor Law suggests that the government's proposed simplified weekly maximum working hours could result in workdays of more than 12 hours. The study, published on Friday, indicates that the introduction of this weekly maximum working time would allow for daily working hours of up to 12 hours and 15 minutes, after accounting for the minimum rest time of 11 hours and a 45-minute rest break.
The researchers emphasize that daily working hours would only be limited through minimum rest times and rest breaks. They caution that a substantial relaxation of daily working hours could exacerbate health issues among workers, particularly chronic fatigue.
Under the current legal framework, there is already room for flexibility, but the experts voice concerns over further deterioration in the compatibility of work and family life, particularly for women in the labor market. Despite the proposed weekly maximum working time replacing the eight-hour daily rule, they argue that it is not a responsible or appropriate solution to address the issue of equal care work.
There is currently a limitation on daily working hours to eight hours, with exceptions allowing for up to 10 hours under certain circumstances. Weekly working hours also have an upper limit of 48 hours, with exceptions, as specified in the coalition agreement between the Union and the SPD.
The Enrichment Data underscores potential health implications and work-family balance concerns associated with extended working hours. Longer shifts could increase the risk of fatigue, chronic health issues, sleep deprivation, mental and physical strain, reduced family and personal time, and difficulties in managing daily life, leading to potential social isolation and burnout.
Employers should exercise caution in implementing such policies, considering the broader consequences on employee well-being and social health.
- The extended workdays proposed by the government, as suggested by the Hans Böckler Foundation's study, could potentially impact the community policy by affecting employee health and work-family balance, especially in terms of vocational training and general-news, given the potential consequences on mental and physical strain, sleep deprivation, and social isolation.
- In light of the government's plan for extended workdays, discussions regarding finance, business, politics, and vocational training should include the potential impact on employee productivity and efficiency, considering the health implications, work-family balance concerns, and the potential deterioration in the compatibility of work and family life, particularly for women in the labor market.
