Contents
Distinguishing it from a break and from stand-by duty
Unlike with a rest break, it is not fixed in advance that no work will be required. Readiness for work is therefore working time and not a break, even where in fact there is nothing to do.
Unlike with stand-by duty, the person is not waiting on standby but at the workplace and in the workflow. The gatekeeper with no visitors, the sales assistant with no customers, the driver waiting at the loading bay: all readiness for work.
Why the classification matters in practice
Where readiness for work regularly falls within working time to a substantial extent, daily working time may be extended beyond ten hours. Section 7(1) no. 1 ArbZG allows that only on the basis of a collective agreement or a works agreement based on one.
Without collective bargaining coverage, the limits in section 3 ArbZG stand. The familiar line "there is usually nothing going on here anyway" does not carry the extension.
Example: gatekeeper duty
- A shift from 18:00 to 06:00, twelve hours.
- Of that, about nine hours with no specific task, so readiness for work.
- Without a collective agreement, at most ten hours are permitted, so the shift is impermissible.
- With a collective basis under section 7(1) no. 1 ArbZG, twelve hours are possible.
Common mistake
Readiness for work gets booked as a break because there happened to be nothing to do. That breaches section 4 ArbZG and at the same time underpays, because readiness for work has to be paid.
This is not legal advice; for a specific case at your workplace you are better off asking someone qualified to give it.
Published by: AMNAU GmbH
Editorial responsibility: Ugur Aydogan, Product development.
Last reviewed: 2 September 2026