Public-sector employees under the TVöD are subject to their own collectively agreed weekly working time, which must be distinguished from the statutory maximum working time under the German Working Hours Act (ArbZG). Here you will find the most important rules – and you can check your own working week against the TVöD profile using the Arbeitszeithelfer calculator.
The standard collectively agreed working time under the TVöD is usually 39 hours per week (full-time). It is therefore lower than the statutory maximum of 48 hours under § 3 ArbZG, but it is an independent collective requirement – exceedances are shown in the calculator separately from statutory violations.
Yes. The TVöD governs the collectively agreed weekly working time and pay, but does not replace the ArbZG. The statutory minimum breaks (§ 4 ArbZG), rest periods (§ 5 ArbZG) and the absolute maximum working time continue to apply unchanged to TVöD employees.
Many TVöD employers use flexitime with a working time account: hours above and below the standard working time are balanced within a settlement period. The exact conditions (core hours, accrual limits, capping thresholds) are set by the respective service or works agreement and may differ from one employer to another.
Overtime under the TVöD is usually compensated by time off in lieu or – if that is not possible – by a time supplement. How many hours beyond the 39-hour week count as overtime in the collective sense depends on the specific service or works agreement provisions.
Part-time TVöD employees work an agreed share of the full-time collective weekly working time of 39 hours. The working time share in percent (e.g. 50%, 75% or 80%) is applied directly to the weekly hours and the salary (the pro rata temporis principle). The following table shows how many TVöD hours common percentage shares result in for weekly and approximate monthly working time.
| Working time share | Weekly working time | Monthly working time (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| 100% | 39 h 00 min | 169 hrs |
| 90% | 35 h 06 min | 152.1 hrs |
| 80% | 31 h 12 min | 135.2 hrs |
| 75% | 29 h 15 min | 126.75 hrs |
| 70% | 27 h 18 min | 118.3 hrs |
| 60% | 23 h 24 min | 101.4 hrs |
| 50% | 19 h 30 min | 84.5 hrs |
| 25% | 9 h 45 min | 42.25 hrs |
The basis is the TVöD full-time weekly working time of 39 hours. The monthly working time is an approximate value (weekly hours × 52 weeks ÷ 12 months) and may vary slightly depending on the calendar month and service agreement. Check your individual working time share in the Arbeitszeithelfer calculator – there you can enter the working time share in percent and the assessment basis adjusts automatically.
The statutory requirements of the ArbZG on breaks (§ 4) and rest periods (§ 5) apply unchanged to part-time employees, regardless of the working time share. Overtime in the collective sense generally only arises for part-time work once the full collective weekly working time of 39 hours is exceeded – additional work within the part-time quota up to the full-time limit is often treated separately (e.g. as additional hours). The respective service or works agreement is always decisive.
Enter your working week and check it directly against the TVöD profile (39 hrs) for violations – including your individual working time share.
The information on this page is for general guidance only and does not replace legal or employment-law advice. The current TVöD collective agreement and the service or works agreement applicable to you are always decisive.