{"id":10013,"date":"2024-01-26T20:50:45","date_gmt":"2024-01-26T19:50:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/allenstein.legal\/overtime-covered-by-salary\/"},"modified":"2026-06-25T16:45:30","modified_gmt":"2026-06-25T14:45:30","slug":"overtime-covered-by-salary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/allenstein.legal\/en\/overtime-covered-by-salary\/","title":{"rendered":"Overtime covered by salary"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"10013\" class=\"elementor elementor-10013 elementor-6935\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e7555f7 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e7555f7\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-39d983b\" data-id=\"39d983b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8756df3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8756df3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">\ud83d\udca1 Key Takeaways<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5bdf25d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5bdf25d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Overtime may only be covered by the salary if the employment contract clearly specifies how many hours this includes. Flat-rate or unlimited clauses are invalid. Employers may only order overtime if this is provided for by contract, a collective agreement, or in emergencies. Without an explicit agreement, overtime generally must be paid or compensated with time off. Employees should always document their overtime precisely in order to be able to prove claims for payment or time off in lieu.    <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1ba52fe elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1ba52fe\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If employees work overtime, they also want to be paid for it. Here I explain when the company may cover overtime with the salary and what you need to consider when it comes to compensating overtime. <\/span><\/p><ol><li><a href=\"https:\/\/allenstein.legal\/en\/overtime-covered-by-salary\/#zulaessig\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #7a37bd;\"> Overtime covered by salary: Is that permissible?<\/span><\/a><\/li><li><span style=\"color: #7a37bd;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/allenstein.legal\/en\/overtime-covered-by-salary\/#mehrarbeit\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Can the employer order additional work?<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"color: #7a37bd;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/allenstein.legal\/en\/overtime-covered-by-salary\/#wehren\">When may I defend myself against overtime?<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/allenstein.legal\/en\/overtime-covered-by-salary\/#wann\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #7a37bd;\"> From when is an employee working overtime? <\/span><\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/allenstein.legal\/en\/overtime-covered-by-salary\/#bezahlen\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #7a37bd;\"> Does my employer have to pay overtime?<\/span><\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/allenstein.legal\/en\/overtime-covered-by-salary\/#freizeitausgleich\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #7a37bd;\"> Can I claim time off in lieu for overtime?<\/span><\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/allenstein.legal\/en\/overtime-covered-by-salary\/#nachweisen\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #7a37bd;\"> How can I prove overtime?<\/span><\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/allenstein.legal\/en\/overtime-covered-by-salary\/#fazit\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #7a37bd;\"> Conclusion<\/span><\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#anker9\">FAQ<\/a><\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-403a967 elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"403a967\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"permissible\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6b7478a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6b7478a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">1. Overtime covered by salary: Is that permissible? <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7df5a0c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7df5a0c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Employment contracts often contain agreements stating that overtime is covered by the normal salary. This means that the company does not pay overtime in addition to the regular salary.  <\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, for such a provision to be permissible, it must meet certain requirements: <\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The clause must specify precisely how many overtime hours the employee(s) may be required to work at most. <\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The contracting parties must also determine whether the overtime will be paid. <\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Example: <\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An agreement providing that an unlimited number of overtime hours is already covered by the regular salary is invalid. <\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A provision that, by contrast, provides for 3 hours of overtime per week with remuneration based on the monthly salary is generally valid. <\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If an overtime clause is invalid, employees can generally demand the customary pay in the industry. <\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">People who perform services of a higher nature or receive a comparably high salary generally cannot claim overtime pay even without a compensation clause (see below). <\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With respect to trainees, overtime being covered by the regular salary is generally excluded. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d16cacb elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"d16cacb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"additionalwork\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-89c8120 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"89c8120\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">2. Can the employer order additional work?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-15fa531 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"15fa531\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a rule, overtime may only be ordered if this is provided for in the employment contract, a collective agreement, or a works agreement. Your employment contract generally specifies the scope of the work you are required to perform. Without such a clause, the company may not order overtime against your will.   <\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Exceptions are only possible in rare cases.<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The employer may order overtime in special emergency situations. This applies in the case of not merely proverbial disasters, such as flooding or a fire, which are unforeseeable for the company and threaten its existence.  <\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Overtime can also be justified by special operational requirements. This may be conceivable, for example, if a company can no longer maintain operations with normal working hours because too many employees are ill. <\/span><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4823166 elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"4823166\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"defendyourself\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dd36756 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"dd36756\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">3. When may I defend myself against overtime?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c8e45b4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c8e45b4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If overtime is not provided for in the employment contract and there is no other exceptional situation, you may generally refuse ordered overtime. However, caution is advised here, because if the order to work overtime is lawful, by refusing you are unlawfully refusing to work. After a prior warning, this can justify an ordinary dismissal. During the probationary period and in small businesses, protection against dismissal is weaker, so the company could theoretically respond with a dismissal. It is therefore advisable to work the ordered overtime first and document it well, and then discuss the permissibility of the overtime with an <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">employment law attorney<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> afterwards. <\/span> <\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a rule, the company may not require employees in part-time work or short-time work to work overtime. This would contradict the nature of part-time work\u2014however, exceptions are possible.  <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9d850be elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"9d850be\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"when\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9c52a1e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9c52a1e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">4. From when is overtime worked? <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8f1ee3f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8f1ee3f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When employees start working overtime depends primarily on the working time provisions in the employment contract. The weekly working hours are usually specified there. As soon as you exceed them, you accumulate overtime.   <\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But be careful: the employer may not order overtime without limit. As a rule, the Working Hours Act (ArbZG) only permits a daily working time of eight hours. Daily working time may be temporarily increased to a maximum of ten hours if time off in lieu is granted within the next six months. This means that within the balancing period of six months or 24 weeks, an average of eight hours is not exceeded.    <\/span><\/p><p><b>Example:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> A full-time employee works ten hours on each of four days in a particular week, i.e., two hours above the daily limit. On the fifth day, he works only eight hours, thus observing the maximum working time on that day. On average, he then comes to 9.6h per day. The employer must now ensure that over the next 24 weeks or six months, an average of no more than 8h per day is worked. On some days, the employee will therefore have to work less than 8h per day.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you work more than the ArbZG allows, the employer faces fines. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ac63374 elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"ac63374\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"pay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a0308be elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a0308be\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">5. Does my employer have to pay overtime?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7370e76 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7370e76\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a rule, the company pays overtime in addition to the normal wage. However, this rule does not apply without exception. In the following cases, you cannot expect remuneration:  <\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your employer does not want you to work overtime at all. They neither ordered it nor approved it or subsequently authorized it. So make sure you only work overtime in consultation.   <\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your employment contract, a collective agreement, or a works agreement excludes payment for overtime. You can find more details on this in the first section. <\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">People in managerial positions and occupational groups who perform \u201cservices of a higher nature\u201d generally do not receive overtime pay either. <\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Typical agreements in employment contracts provide for a flat-rate remuneration for a certain number of overtime hours or a provision that grants remuneration for overtime only from a certain number of hours. Collective agreements often also regulate bonuses on top of the normal hourly wage. If there is no other agreement, you can calculate the amount of the wage for a 40-hour week using the following formula:   <\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Annual gross salary \/ 12 \/ 174 = gross hourly wage<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Note: Social security contributions also apply to overtime and it must be taxed like normal wages. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b2a6ec0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"b2a6ec0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"timeoffinlieu\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c309cfa elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c309cfa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">6. Can I claim time off in lieu for overtime?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cc1e129 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cc1e129\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even though paying overtime in money is the rule, you can also compensate overtime with time off. However, whether and to what extent this is possible must be set out in the employment contract. You can also reach a corresponding agreement with your employer afterwards\u2014preferably in writing.   <\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The parties often agree on time off in lieu for overtime after a (contentious) dismissal. The dismissed employee is then to use up remaining vacation and overtime during the notice period so that the employer does not have to make any compensation payments for it. This is then expressly done as part of a so-called garden leave.   <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0cddccd elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"0cddccd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"prove\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ae25d0a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ae25d0a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">7. How can I prove overtime?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6f8408a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6f8408a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In order to be able to claim outstanding remuneration or time off in lieu from the company, you must also be able to prove that you worked overtime and that it was ordered. The burden of proof lies with you. We therefore recommend that you document the overtime you have worked precisely. Taking photos of digital time recording or punch cards can protect you. However, a written account of the overtime worked, stating the days and periods, may also be sufficient in some cases to prove your overtime (BAG, judgment of 21\/12\/2016, case no. 5 AZR 362\/16).    <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-325321d elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"325321d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"conclusion\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a4adb61 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a4adb61\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">8. Conclusion<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a555fcd elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a555fcd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Overtime can only be covered by the salary if it is expressly agreed how many hours employees can expect at most and this does not exceed a certain scope. <\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If there is no agreement in the employment contract, the company may only order overtime in rare exceptional cases. <\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If overtime is ordered unlawfully, employees can refuse to work without consequences. However, this should definitely be discussed beforehand with an <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">employment law attorney<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. <\/span> <\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unless the employment contract provides otherwise, the company generally pays for overtime worked\u2014different rules apply for very well-paid professions and for overtime that was not ordered. <\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can demand time off in lieu for overtime if it is provided for in the employment contract or if the parties agree to it afterwards. <\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Employees should be sure to document overtime worked precisely, e.g., by providing a written account stating the days and exact periods. <\/span><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-68e0f2a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"68e0f2a\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-bc86b1b\" data-id=\"bc86b1b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-765a389 elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"765a389\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"anchor9\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c37db0e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c37db0e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">9. FAQ<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4778cf8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-accordion\" data-id=\"4778cf8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"accordion.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-7491\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-7491\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Is overtime automatically covered by the salary?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-7491\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-7491\"><p>No. A corresponding provision in the employment contract is only valid if it specifies precisely how many overtime hours are covered by the salary. Flat-rate or unlimited clauses are legally invalid.  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-7492\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-7492\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Do I have to work overtime if my employer demands it?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-7492\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-7492\"><p>Overtime may only be required if this is regulated in the employment contract, a collective agreement, or a works agreement. Without such a basis, overtime is generally voluntary unless there is an urgent operational emergency. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-7493\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-7493\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">How can I prove my overtime to get it paid?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-7493\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-7493\"><p>Keep a precise working time log or secure evidence such as punch cards or screenshots of time recording. Only if you can prove that the overtime was ordered or tolerated are you entitled to payment or time off in lieu. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-7494\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-7494\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Do managers or high earners get paid for overtime?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-7494\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-7494\"><p>Managers and employees with high incomes generally do not receive separate overtime pay. In the case of services of a higher nature, overtime is usually considered covered by the salary, even without an explicit contractual clause. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Is overtime automatically covered by the salary?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"<p>No. A corresponding provision in the employment contract is only valid if it specifies precisely how many overtime hours are covered by the salary. Flat-rate or unlimited clauses are legally invalid.  <\\\/p>\\n\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Do I have to work overtime if my employer demands it?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"<p>Overtime may only be required if this is regulated in the employment contract, a collective agreement, or a works agreement. Without such a basis, overtime is generally voluntary unless there is an urgent operational emergency. <\\\/p>\\n\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How can I prove my overtime to get it paid?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"<p>Keep a precise working time log or secure evidence such as punch cards or screenshots of time recording. Only if you can prove that the overtime was ordered or tolerated are you entitled to payment or time off in lieu. <\\\/p>\\n\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Do managers or high earners get paid for overtime?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"<p>Managers and employees with high incomes generally do not receive separate overtime pay. In the case of services of a higher nature, overtime is usually considered covered by the salary, even without an explicit contractual clause. <\\\/p>\\n\"}}]}<\/script>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\ud83d\udca1 Key Takeaways Overtime may only be covered by the salary if the employment contract clearly specifies how many hours this includes. Flat-rate or unlimited clauses are invalid. Employers may only order overtime if this is provided for by contract, a collective agreement, or in emergencies. Without an explicit agreement, overtime generally must be paid [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"two_page_speed":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10013","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-unkategorisiert"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Overtime covered by salary | LACHMUNDlaw<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"&quot;Overtime is covered by the salary&quot; \u2013 When such clauses in an employment contract are invalid and how you can claim payment.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/allenstein.legal\/en\/overtime-covered-by-salary\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Overtime covered by salary\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Can overtime be covered by the salary as a lump sum? Read what is legally permissible and when you are entitled to compensation.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/allenstein.legal\/en\/overtime-covered-by-salary\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Allenstein Legal - Digitale Kanzlei f\u00fcr Arbeitsrecht\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-01-26T19:50:45+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-06-25T14:45:30+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/allenstein.legal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Anne-Lachmund-Rechtsanwaeltin-300x300.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Anne Lachmund - Anwalt f\u00fcr Arbeitsrecht Berlin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Anne Lachmund - Anwalt f\u00fcr Arbeitsrecht Berlin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Overtime covered by salary | LACHMUNDlaw","description":"\"Overtime is covered by the salary\" \u2013 When such clauses in an employment contract are invalid and how you can claim payment.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/allenstein.legal\/en\/overtime-covered-by-salary\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Overtime covered by salary","og_description":"Can overtime be covered by the salary as a lump sum? Read what is legally permissible and when you are entitled to compensation.","og_url":"https:\/\/allenstein.legal\/en\/overtime-covered-by-salary\/","og_site_name":"Allenstein Legal - Digitale Kanzlei f\u00fcr Arbeitsrecht","article_published_time":"2024-01-26T19:50:45+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-06-25T14:45:30+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"https:\/\/allenstein.legal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Anne-Lachmund-Rechtsanwaeltin-300x300.jpg","type":"","width":"","height":""}],"author":"Anne Lachmund - Anwalt f\u00fcr Arbeitsrecht Berlin","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Anne Lachmund - Anwalt f\u00fcr Arbeitsrecht Berlin","Est. reading time":"8 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":["Article","BlogPosting"],"@id":"https:\/\/allenstein.legal\/en\/overtime-covered-by-salary\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/allenstein.legal\/en\/overtime-covered-by-salary\/"},"author":{"name":"Anne Lachmund - Anwalt f\u00fcr Arbeitsrecht Berlin","@id":"https:\/\/allenstein.legal\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/cc8ffbef8daeec93b48bd2cb26700c4c"},"headline":"Overtime covered by salary","datePublished":"2024-01-26T19:50:45+00:00","dateModified":"2026-06-25T14:45:30+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/allenstein.legal\/en\/overtime-covered-by-salary\/"},"wordCount":1580,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/allenstein.legal\/en\/#organization"},"articleSection":["Unkategorisiert"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/allenstein.legal\/en\/overtime-covered-by-salary\/","url":"https:\/\/allenstein.legal\/en\/overtime-covered-by-salary\/","name":"Overtime covered by salary | LACHMUNDlaw","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/allenstein.legal\/en\/#website"},"datePublished":"2024-01-26T19:50:45+00:00","dateModified":"2026-06-25T14:45:30+00:00","description":"\"Overtime is covered by the salary\" \u2013 When such clauses in an employment contract are invalid and how you can claim payment.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/allenstein.legal\/en\/overtime-covered-by-salary\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/allenstein.legal\/en\/overtime-covered-by-salary\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/allenstein.legal\/en\/overtime-covered-by-salary\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/allenstein.legal\/en\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Overtime covered by salary"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/allenstein.legal\/en\/#website","url":"https:\/\/allenstein.legal\/en\/","name":"Allenstein Legal - 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