{"id":25743,"date":"2025-06-10T05:48:10","date_gmt":"2025-06-10T03:48:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zmi.de\/recording-working-hours-when-working-from-home-what-is-mandatory-what-makes-sense\/"},"modified":"2026-03-24T14:43:19","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T13:43:19","slug":"working-time-recording-in-the-homeoffice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zmi.de\/en\/working-time-recording-in-the-homeoffice\/","title":{"rendered":"Recording working hours when working from home: what is mandatory, what makes sense?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Since the ruling of the Federal Labor Court (BAG) in 2022, it has been clear that employers in Germany are obliged to record working hours – regardless of the place of work or the basis of trust. But how can this be reconciled in practice with working from home and trust-based working hours<\/a>? <\/p>

The new reality: flexibility meets documentation requirements<\/span><\/h2>

Mobile working<\/a> and flexible working time models<\/a> have long since arrived in the middle of the working world. Working from home and trust-based working hours in particular are considered modern forms of work that allow employees personal responsibility and freedom.<\/p>

However, the Federal Labor Court (BAG) clarified this in September 2022: Employers are obliged to introduce a system for recording working hours (Section 3 ArbSchG as interpreted by the BAG). Legislators have been working on a specific design since the ruling – but the obligation<\/a> already exists. <\/p>

What does this mean for companies in concrete terms?<\/span><\/h2>

Many people ask themselves: Does the obligation also apply to trust-based working time? The answer is yes. Even if employees can organize their own working hours, employers must still ensure that working hours are recorded and documented – also in order to monitor break times<\/a> and maximum working hours in accordance with the Working Hours Act (ArbZG)<\/a>. <\/p>

This does not necessarily have to involve time clocks or meticulous monitoring. The decisive factor is that the start and end of work and breaks can be documented – whether using manual entries or digital tools. <\/p>

Occupational health and safety in the home office: recognizing and preventing burnout – with digital support<\/h2>

The boundaries between work and private life become particularly blurred when working from home. Many employees work longer hours than in the office, forgo breaks or are “always available”. In the long term, this can lead to mental overload and burnout. <\/p>

Take warning signs seriously:<\/strong><\/p>