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Weekly working hours are coming: the majority of Germans are happy about flexibility!
The majority of Germans support new working time models that could promote flexibility and productivity. Survey results show different views on weekly working hours.
Weekly working hours are coming: the majority of Germans are happy about flexibility!
A current survey makes people sit up and take notice: a majority of employees in Germany support the introduction of flexible weekly working hours. According to a YouGov survey for the German Press Agency, 38% of respondents support the federal government's plans, while 20% reject them and 37% remain neutral. The survey, which was carried out between May 14 and 16, 2025, relates to a possible restructuring of working hours, which is addressed in the coalition agreement of the black-red government alliance.
Among the supporters there are many who would like to benefit from a possible change. 82% believe that employees could work more flexibly, which would allow for a long weekend. A majority of 66% of opponents fear that productivity will suffer if working hours are extended to more than eight hours per day. In addition, 61% of those who refused expressed concerns about health risks caused by longer working hours.
Discussion about working time models
The debate about future working time models is causing waves. The coalition agreement speaks of more flexibility for employees and companies. Potential models are four days with ten hours each or other variants. A detailed look at the survey results shows that 37% of respondents prefer ten hours on four days with the same pay. In contrast, 28% are in favor of a classic eight-hour day on five days.
The arguments for both models are diverse. While 60% of those in favor of the eight-hour day emphasize that they cannot concentrate for more than eight hours, over 40% point to the loss of leisure and family time. Conversely, 80% of those in favor of the four-day model support the idea of more days off, and 43% believe in a better work-life balance.
Health and working hours
The discussion about the impact of working hours on mental health is not new. Studies show that atypical working hours and long working hours are often associated with health risks. Amlinger-Chatterjee M and Wöhrmann AM have examined mental health in the world of work in previous studies and found that flexible working hours offer both opportunities and risks.
In addition, the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA) carries out laboratory studies that look at health aspects of working time organization. These scientific findings, such as those by Backhaus N et al. (2023), emphasize the need for a healthy balance between work and leisure to counteract stress and fatigue.
In view of these studies and the most recent survey results, it is clear that the discussion about flexible working hours in Germany is only just beginning. The coming months could be crucial for the introduction of new working time models that meet both the needs of employees and the requirements of employers.