Break Calculation (ArbZG)
German Labor Law (ArbZG SS4)
Section titled “German Labor Law (ArbZG SS4)”The Arbeitszeitgesetz (German Working Time Act), Section 4, requires mandatory rest breaks based on total daily work time:
| Work Duration | Required Break |
|---|---|
| Up to 6 hours | No break required |
| More than 6 hours | At least 30 minutes |
| More than 9 hours | At least 45 minutes |
These breaks do not count as work time.
How It Works in OWT
Section titled “How It Works in OWT”OpenWorktimeTracker implements this as auto-break — an automatic deduction from your gross work time:
Net Work Time = Gross Time - Auto Break - Manual PausesAuto-Break Logic
Section titled “Auto-Break Logic”The auto-break is calculated based on your work time before auto-break (gross time minus manual pauses):
- If
workTimeBeforeAutoBreak > 9h: auto-break =max(0, 45min - manualPause) - If
workTimeBeforeAutoBreak > 6h: auto-break =max(0, 30min - manualPause) - Otherwise: auto-break =
0
Manual Pauses Count
Section titled “Manual Pauses Count”If you manually pause the timer or classify idle time as a break, those pauses count against the required break. For example:
- You worked 7 hours gross, with a 20-minute manual pause
- Required break: 30 minutes
- Auto-break:
30 - 20 = 10 minutes - Net work time:
7h - 10min - 20min = 6h 30min
If your manual pauses already exceed the required break, no additional auto-break is applied.
Configuration
Section titled “Configuration”You can customize the break thresholds in Settings > Breaks:
| Setting | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
| First break threshold | 6 hours | When the first break kicks in |
| First break duration | 30 minutes | Duration of the first break tier |
| Second break threshold | 9 hours | When the extended break kicks in |
| Second break duration | 45 minutes | Duration of the second break tier |
Examples
Section titled “Examples”Scenario 1: Standard 8-hour day
Section titled “Scenario 1: Standard 8-hour day”- Gross time: 8h 30min
- Manual pauses: 0
- Auto-break: 30min (because > 6h)
- Net work time: 8h 00min
Scenario 2: Long day with lunch break
Section titled “Scenario 2: Long day with lunch break”- Gross time: 10h 00min
- Manual pause (lunch): 45min
- Auto-break:
max(0, 45min - 45min)= 0min - Net work time: 9h 15min
Scenario 3: Short day
Section titled “Scenario 3: Short day”- Gross time: 5h 30min
- Manual pauses: 0
- Auto-break: 0 (under 6h)
- Net work time: 5h 30min