Overtime pay in Germany — Mehrarbeit
In Germany, overtime is only compensated if it was ordered, tolerated or necessary. The base rate equals your hourly rate; a contractual or collective-agreement supplement is added on top.
Typical contractual supplements: 0% (often the default for non-tariff salaries), 25% (commonly negotiated), 50% (some tariff agreements).
Burden of proof. You as the employee must prove the overtime hours and that they were ordered, tolerated, or necessary for the work. Keep written evidence (chat logs, emails, time sheets). Claims expire under § 195 BGB after 3 years — and many contracts contain shorter contractual exclusion clauses.
Tell us about your case
Fill in the form — we will review your situation. Free of charge, typically within 48 hours. We handle German labour-law matters in English.
What happens next?
After your enquiry we review the details and reply with an initial assessment — whether the dismissal can be challenged, how high a likely severance could be and which next steps make sense.
bektas@apos.legal
+49 6222 9599 2400
Response time: we reply within 48 hours on working days. If you have already received a dismissal, please mention it — deadline-sensitive cases are prioritised.