What are the perks I'm eligible for, working part-time in Germany?
In Germany, approximately 80% of employees work part-time, and under the Part-Time and Fixed-Term Employment Act, these workers are entitled to every benefit proportionate to their working time. This includes holidays, special payments, bonuses, and overtime pay.
Part-time employees receive holiday entitlements proportionate to their working time. For instance, if a full-time employee gets 20 working days off per year, a part-time employee working half the hours would get 10 days. Special payments or bonuses, such as Christmas bonuses or performance bonuses, must also be granted proportionally to part-time employees depending on their hours worked.
Overtime pay is another entitlement for part-time employees. If they work beyond their agreed hours, they are entitled to overtime pay. Overtime is calculated based on the full-time hours standard. Part-time workers are entitled to additional pay for working at night or Sundays/public holidays.
All other benefits that can be proportionally divided, such as paid leave and sick leave benefits, are also granted proportionally to part-time employees. Part-time workers are also entitled to the same anniversary or loyalty bonuses as full-time employees.
Part-time workers are entitled to the same number of weeks of vacation as full-time workers. However, they receive fewer paid vacation days because they work fewer days per week. For example, if a part-time worker works four days a week, they would be entitled to 80% of the vacation days of a full-time worker.
Care-taker's leave is available for both full-time and part-time employees in Germany. They can choose to be released from work completely or partially during this time. Employees on care leave can apply for an interest-free loan from the Federal Office for Family and Civil Society Tasks (BAFzA) to secure their livelihood during this time.
Employees should refer to their employment contracts or seek advice from their works council, trade union, or a specialist employment lawyer for clarification on bonus entitlements. Special payments, such as Christmas or holiday bonuses, may be entitled to part-time workers if stipulated in their employment contract.
Exceptions to overtime pay for part-time workers can be made if an employer can present objective reasons based on the nature of the work. However, these exceptions must not disadvantage part-time workers. The German labor law ensures that part-time workers are not disadvantaged and that their entitlements correspond proportionally to their working time compared to full-time employees.
Personal-finance benefits for part-time employees are outlined in German labor law. Special payments, such as Christmas bonuses or performance bonuses, must be granted proportionally to part-time employees depending on their hours worked, just like overtime pay, which is calculated based on the full-time hours standard.
