Nachhaltig und zukunftsfähig – Anforderungen an die Arbeitszeitgestaltung aus Sicht des Arbeits- und Gesundheitsschutzes

Working hours are a central factor in the design of working and living environments. From an individual perspective, it synchronizes private life with the time demands of work. From a business perspective, it is part of optimizing economic success. In addition, it has an important social interest. In order to protect employees from health impairments, defining and complying with requirements for the organization of working hours is crucial. When it comes to practical implementation, companies have access to extensive findings from working time research over the last 50 years on how to organize working hours in a healthy way. New challenges arise due to increasing desires for flexibility and increasing demands in the work context, such as high work intensity. Current findings indicate that rest and regeneration during and after work are very important for sustainably maintaining the health of employees. Against this background, a discussion of the German Working Hours Act with regard to further flexibility needs such as extending daily working hours or reducing rest periods appears to be inappropriate and puts into question adequate employee protection. Rather, it makes sense to use the organization of working hours and take into account the available occupational science findings to avoid work-related sickness absences or incapacity to work.