A working-time account compares the hours actually recorded with the hours you were scheduled or contracted to work. A positive balance may indicate additional time; a negative balance may indicate a shortfall. Whether the difference legally counts as overtime, and how it must be compensated, depends on the employment contract, collective agreement, workplace rules and circumstances.
Time-balance formula
Balance = actual working time − target working time. Calculate actual working time by subtracting unpaid breaks from the attendance period. Then compare it with the target for the same period. Use minutes or decimal hours consistently; do not mix the two formats.
Two examples
Your target is 7 hours 30 minutes. You actually work 8 hours 10 minutes net. 8:10 − 7:30 = 0:40, so the daily balance is plus 40 minutes.
In another week, your scheduled hours are 38 and your recorded hours are 36 hours 45 minutes. 36:45 − 38:00 = −1:15. The account shows a deficit of 1 hour 15 minutes. The overtime calculator can help you check such differences.
When should you review your balance?
Check it regularly, for example after shift changes, business travel, annual leave or sickness absence. Clarify which periods count as working time, how breaks are recorded and whether a maximum balance or settlement period applies. Record discrepancies promptly and keep your own records.
Common mistakes
- Failing to subtract unpaid breaks.
- Confusing 7.30 decimal hours with 7 hours 30 minutes.
- Classifying absences or approved leave incorrectly.
- Assuming every mathematical surplus automatically creates a legal overtime claim.
For general information on working-time rules, consult Germany’s Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.
Additional practical tip
Compare your calculation with the official time-recording system regularly. Record corrections with their date and reason, and clarify discrepancies promptly with the relevant person. This helps distinguish additional work from schedule changes or recording errors.
Read next: Related guide and calculator.
Germany’s Federal Ministry of Labour explains working time, breaks and time recording (German-language resource). Your contract and collective agreement remain important for individual cases.
Keep a reliable time record
A meaningful balance compares actual and scheduled hours for exactly the same period. Do not compare one shift with a monthly target. Record whether breaks have already been deducted and whether approved absences have been included. If your weekly hours vary, a longer accounting period may be more informative than a single day. Also check whether your workplace applies a maximum balance or a settlement period for accumulated hours. The calculator helps with the mathematical difference; whether the time legally counts as ordered or tolerated overtime depends on the circumstances and applicable agreements.