Working and rest times

Balanced working and rest times are part of health protection, as they prevent both overtiredness and fatigue-related accidents. They guarantee a social life for employees, for example by establishing Sunday as a day of rest. The Labor Code specifies the minimum rest periods for employees as well as the organization of shift schedules.

In principle, night work and Sunday work are prohibited, with public holidays being treated as equal to Sundays. If, despite everything, night work, Sunday work or shift work are necessary for an operation, these can be approved if the legal requirements are met.

According to the Labor Code, public holidays that are to be equated with Sundays are:

• New Year's Day (01.01.)
• Holy Three Kings (06.01.)
• Easter Monday, May 1
• Christmas (Ascension)
• Pentecost Monday
• Fronleichnam
• Mary's Ascension (15.08.)
• Mary Nativity (08.09.)
• All Saints (01.11.)
• Mary Conception (08.12.)
• Christmas (25.12.)
• St. Stephen's Day (26.12.)