Working hours in Germany and France: more than just facts

When it comes to working hours in Germany, many clichés still persist: long working days, a rigid work culture, not enough breaks. However, the reality is much more balanced. Working hours, breaks, daily schedules and corporate culture all contribute to a highly structured approach to work, but not necessarily a more intense one. To understand working hours in Germany, we need to look beyond the statistics and analyse the day-to-day practices and underlying values.

Working hours in Germany and France: the legal framework

Working hours in Germany are primarily based on a legal framework which differs from its French counterpart. Unlike in France, the legal working week is not set at 35 hours. German employment contracts usually specify a working week of between 38 and 40 hours, depending on the sector and collective agreements.

The working hours are strictly regulated by the German law, which aims to protect the health of employees and prevent excessive demands. In particular, the rules relate to the maximum daily working hours (maximum 8 hours) and mandatory rest periods.

Daily schedules: start early to finish earlier

One of the most noticeable aspects of working hours in Germany concerns the daily routine. Many German employees start their day very early, often between 6 and 8 a.m. This habit contrasts sharply with France, where arriving at the office around 9 a.m. remains common.

This early morning start has a straightforward consequence: the working day ends earlier. In many German companies, leaving work in the middle or late afternoon is normal, sometimes as early as 3 or 4 pm. This pattern is based on a simple logic: concentrating work into an efficient time slot without artificially stretching the day.

Another key point that should be highlighted is that staying late at the office is not necessarily valued. In fact, it can be interpreted as a sign of poor organisation or inefficiency. In German culture, a high-performing employee is someone who completes tasks within the given time frame, not someone who accumulates overtime. This concept of working time in Germany can be unfamiliar to French employees who are used to associating late hours with professional commitment.

Lunch break: an important difference

The way lunch breaks are handled perfectly illustrates the difference in work culture between France and Germany. In Germany, lunch breaks are usually short, often around 30 minutes. It's seen as a necessary break to quickly eat and then get back to work.

Meanwhile, in France, the lunch break is a central part of social and cultural life. It can last more than an hour and is part of a tradition of conviviality. This difference is not insignificant: it reveals two different conceptions of the relationship between work and private time.

In Germany, breaks...

• are integrated into the work schedule,

• aim to maintain concentration and efficiency,

• and rarely result in long meals.

In France, the break...

• is a time to breathe,

• encourages informal conversation,

• and is an integral part of quality of life at work.

This contrast illustrates two different approaches to managing time. In Germany, there is a break, but it is short and optimized. In France, the lunch break marks a significant and almost symbolic shift between work and free time, even in the middle of the working day.

Supervised flexibility

Contrary to common belief, working hours in Germany are not strictly rigid. Many companies offer flexible working time arrangements, as long as the agreed framework is respected. Known as ‘Gleitzeit’, or ‘flexible working hours’, this system allows employees to adjust their hours of arrival and departure, as long as they work the number of contracted hours over a given period.

This kind of structured flexibility often goes hand in hand with a more horizontal management approach compared to France. Hierarchical relationships are generally less formal, and direct communication is encouraged.

In Germany, the working day is closely linked to the concept of collective efficiency. The aim is not to fill time, but to use it as effectively as possible. Long meetings without a clear agenda or endless informal discussions are often seen as counterproductive.

For a successful German-French collaboration, it is important to understand the differences in everyday working practices. Adapting your communication and taking into account your business partner's perception of time can help to avoid misunderstandings and improve collaboration.

Conclusion

Comparing the working hours between Germany and France shows that the differences are not just a matter of laws or contractual working hours. Above all, they reflect distinct cultural views on work and time. Whereas Germany favours efficiency and short breaks in order to finish earlier, France values the lunch break as a central element of work-life balance.

Taking these differences into account is very important for a successful German-French partnership. Understanding the significance of the lunch break also means understanding how an average workday unfolds on the other side of the Rhine... and avoiding misunderstandings that sometimes begin at lunchtime.

Sources

Connexion emploi : Wo wird mehr gearbeitet: In Deutschland oder in Frankreich?

EuroRekruter : Travailler en Allemagne

Connexion emploi : Différences culturelles France / Allemagne : quotidien et travail

Connexion emploi : Am Schreibtisch essen in Frankreich: Das ist verboten!