According to a special analysis of the German Confederation of Trade Unions’ “Good Work” Index (Gute Arbeit Index), roughly 40 % of public‑sector employees regularly work overtime. 22 % of them put in an average of one to five extra hours each week, while a further 17 % clock in more than five overtime hours each week.
Many workers are unhappy with their schedules. 56 % of those surveyed in the public domain say they would like to work fewer hours. Among civil servants the sentiment is even stronger: 65 % want relief from the workload, 33 % work more than 40 hours a week, and 11 % exceed 48 hours weekly. Overall, 65 % of the respondents in the public sector clock at least 35 hours per week.
“Against this backdrop, demands for more part‑time work and longer hours feel like a slap in the face to everyone who has been working at the limit for years” said Elke Hannack, deputy chair of the DGB. She also criticised the proposed abolition of the eight‑hour day as a misleading signal, adding that those who regularly take on overtime, extra shifts and the associated health risks need no instruction on how to do even more.
The “Good Work” Index survey gathered information on working hours from more than 1 300 public‑sector employees. In total, over 5.3 million people are employed in Germany’s public service, including about 1.8 million civil servants and judges. Thirty‑five percent of public‑sector employees work part time.
