Implement ArbZG-compliant working-time recording with confidence
The duty to record working time already applies in Germany today - since the Federal Labour Court's (Bundesarbeitsgericht, BAG) decision of 13 September 2022 (1 ABR 22/21). Notory Hora implements it cleanly: a real-time engine checks maximum working hours, breaks, rest periods, and Sunday, public-holiday and night work, and warns both managers and employees. All limits are configurable (Section 7 ArbZG), and every record is tamper-evident.
The duty already applies - regardless of the pending reform
In 2022, the Federal Labour Court ruled that employers must already introduce a system for recording working time under current law - derived from Section 3(2) No. 1 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (Arbeitsschutzgesetz, ArbSchG), read in light of the European Court of Justice's (EuGH) CCOO ruling (C-55/18). The planned ArbZG reform (electronic, day-to-day, staggered by company size) exists in mid-2026 only as a draft bill (Referentenentwurf) from the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS), dated 17 June 2026, and is not yet in force. Anyone recording electronically and tamper-evidently today is prepared for both.
This text is a general overview and does not constitute legal advice.
Maximum hours & averaging
Checks against the 8-hour daily limit on working days, extendable to 10 hours with averaging within 24 weeks (Section 3 ArbZG). The 24-week average is calculated cleanly per shift, including across night and daylight-saving-time changes.
Breaks & rest periods
Rest breaks under Section 4 (30 minutes from 6 hours, 45 minutes from 9 hours) and the 11-hour rest period under Section 5 - checked directly at every clock-in/clock-out transition, not just at day boundaries.
Night, Sunday & public holiday work
Rules on night work (Section 6) and on Sunday and public-holiday rest with substitute rest days (Sections 9 to 11), including correct allocation of shifts that cross midnight.
Configurable limits (Section 7)
Collective agreements and works agreements may deviate from the standard limits - which is why every threshold can be stored as a profile. Warnings go to managers and the affected employee, with escalation levels up to a hard lock.
Authority-ready export
Auditor export for German Customs (Zoll) and the Financial Control Unit for Undeclared Work (Finanzkontrolle Schwarzarbeit) as well as the trade supervisory authority (Gewerbeaufsicht) - presentable at the place of employment, tamper-evident with a change history and hash footer.
Tamper-evident & GDPR
Server timestamps as the authority, a hash-chained audit trail, and sealable month-end closes. Runs self-hosted or hosted, with encryption, tenant isolation and works-council compatibility (Section 87 BetrVG).
Related topics around time tracking
ArbZG compliance is part of Notory Hora. More on this topic:
Questions on working-time recording under the ArbZG
Is recording working time mandatory in Germany?
Yes, already today. The Federal Labour Court's (Bundesarbeitsgericht, BAG) decision of 13 September 2022 (1 ABR 22/21) derives, from Section 3(2) No. 1 ArbSchG - read in light of the European Court of Justice's CCOO ruling (C-55/18) - a duty to introduce a system for recording working time. This applies regardless of the still-pending ArbZG reform.
What exactly does the Working Hours Act require?
Among other things: an 8-hour daily maximum on working days (extendable to 10 hours with averaging within 24 weeks, Section 3), rest breaks (Section 4: 30 minutes from 6 hours, 45 minutes from 9 hours), 11 hours of rest (Section 5), rules on night work (Section 6) and on Sunday and public-holiday rest with substitute rest days (Sections 9 to 11). Much of this can be regulated differently by collective or works agreement (Section 7).
Is the ArbZG reform already in force?
No. The planned reform on electronic, day-to-day recording - staggered by company size - exists in mid-2026 only as a draft bill (Referentenentwurf) from the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS), dated 17 June 2026, and is not yet in force. Notory Hora already records electronically, on a day-to-day basis and tamper-evidently, and makes the ArbZG limits configurable.
How does Notory Hora support ArbZG compliance?
A real-time engine checks every entry against the limits and warns managers and the affected employee - with escalation levels from a notice through a warning up to a hard lock. All limits are configurable (collective or works agreement), and an authority-ready export is available for inspections.
ArbZG-compliant from the very first clock-in
ArbZG compliance is part of Notory Hora, available as an add-on from Pro. Request a live demo or take a look at the plans.