Working hours are normally set when you sign your contract. But under certain circumstances employees have to go onto short-time work (Kurzarbeit, Germany's state-subsidized reduced-hours scheme).

which effectively shortens their regular working hours. But what exactly does that mean?

Short-time work hours - what's behind the term

The term is self-explanatory, because with short-time work your actual working hours are reduced. That can hit you hard as an employee. For a certain period you work a few hours less than usual.
The employer introduces short-time work when there is less work to be done. This can be seasonal or because the order situation has worsened at the time.
Short-time work is good for the company, since the lower personnel costs ease its finances.
The employer pays the so-called short-time work allowance (Kurzarbeitergeld) to its employees, which can be reimbursed by the Federal Employment Agency.
Thanks to short-time work, employees don't lose their jobs entirely and still receive some money.

Short-time work hours

How quickly can short-time work be applied for, and for whom?

Short-time work can be introduced at any time, since an application for the short-time work allowance can be processed very quickly. Within 15 working days everything can be settled by the Federal Employment Agency. All documents must be checked for legitimacy.
Short-time work can only be applied for by certain groups of people. These mainly include salaried employees and workers.
The following are excluded, however:

- Apprentices
- Retirees
- People receiving sick pay
- Mini-jobbers (marginal part-time workers)

Otherwise there are no restrictions and there isn't much to keep in mind. In that sense, nothing stands in the way of applying for short-time work and the corresponding money.
As an employee, you can also apply for the money yourself.

Short-time work hours

Short-time work hours - What are the rules on overtime?

Before short-time work is applied for, however, employees should work off their overtime. Only then is the loss of work considered unavoidable and is it possible to put employees on short-time work.
If your employer orders overtime during short-time work, that is not permitted. Short-time work means there isn't enough work, so no overtime is justified. Overtime during this period is a clear contradiction, which is why it isn't allowed. Both employees and employers are on dangerous ground here, as this can quickly count as benefit abuse. The employer is then guilty of fraud during the short-time work, which can have consequences.
An employee who simply accepts this is, in that case, aiding and abetting the fraud.
So both parties can face penalties, which can mean not only fines but also prison sentences. You should therefore be careful here, and the employee should refuse.