Working Time Rules in the EU

Working-time rules decide how long people can work, how much rest they are owed, and what records employers must keep. They differ by country and change over time. This overview covers the shared European framework and how it plays out in Poland, France, Germany, and other member states, so you know what to look into - not as a substitute for legal advice.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Limits, reference periods, exceptions, and record-keeping duties vary by country, sector, and contract, and they change. Always confirm the current rules with the official source and a qualified adviser before you rely on them.

The shared European framework

Across the EU, working time is governed by the Working Time Directive (2003/88/EC), which each member state implements in its own national law. Its best-known baseline provisions include:

• an average working week that does not exceed 48 hours, including overtime, measured over a reference period,
• a minimum daily rest period of 11 consecutive hours,
• a rest break when the working day is long,
• at least four weeks of paid annual leave.

National law can be more generous, and specific reference periods, opt-outs, and sector rules vary widely.

Records: the measurement obligation

In 2019 the Court of Justice of the EU ruled (the CCOO case) that employers must have an objective, reliable system to measure daily working time. In practice this raised the bar on keeping accurate time records rather than estimating hours after the fact. How each country implements it differs, but the direction is clear: reliable working time records matter.

Poland

Polish labor law sets a standard norm of 8 hours a day and an average of 40 hours a week over a settlement period, with daily and weekly rest and defined overtime rules. Employers are required to keep working-time records; what must be recorded, and for how long, is set out in the Labor Code and its regulations. See the working time rules in Poland for a country overview and the official source.

France

France’s statutory reference working week is 35 hours, with hours beyond it generally treated as overtime, plus daily and weekly rest requirements. Many details are set by sector agreements (conventions collectives), so two French employers can operate under different specifics. See the working time rules in France for a country overview.

Germany

Germany’s Working Hours Act (Arbeitszeitgesetz) caps normal work at 8 hours a day, extendable to 10 if the average over six months stays at 8. There is no statutory overtime premium, so extra-hour pay depends on the contract or collective agreement, and at least 11 hours of daily rest applies. See the working time rules in Germany for more.

Other member states

Every EU country implements the same directive differently. Overtime caps and premiums, reference periods, daily rest, and record-keeping duties vary by member state, sector, and collective agreement. For a per-country overview, compare the working time rules by country, including Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, and Denmark, which has required a register of daily working time since July 2024.

What this means for teams

You do not need to memorize every rule to stay on the right side of it. You do need:

• reliable records of hours worked, rest, and leave,
• clear internal policies that reflect the law you operate under,
• a way to review those records before payroll and reporting.

Editable starting points help: a time tracking policy, an attendance policy, and an overtime policy. For standard hours and public holidays by country, see working hours by country.

How Sandtime.io fits

Sandtime.io keeps an accurate, reviewable record of worked hours and overtime - the kind of objective record the EU measurement ruling points toward - without screenshots or surveillance. It does not decide compliance for you, but it gives you dependable data to work from, and the data is hosted in the EU, at OVHcloud. It is free for unlimited users, with no credit card. Start tracking free, or begin with the free templates and tools while you draft your policy.