Harvest
Time Tracking
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Timesheet App in Germany

Harvest is a timesheet app that helps businesses in Germany meet legal time tracking requirements, ensuring compliance with labor laws and GDPR.

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How many hours did you work this week?

Enter your clock-in and clock-out times for each day. The calculator handles breaks, overtime, and weekly totals automatically.

Day Clock In Clock Out Break Hours
Total hours this week 0h
Regular hours (≤40) 0h
Overtime hours 0h
Average hours/day 0h
Total break time 0h

Track time automatically with Harvest

Walk through the entire flow below. Start a timer, check your reports, and create a real invoice — all in three clicks.

Go ahead — start tracking!

One click and you're timing. Try it right here: start a timer, add an entry, edit the details. This is exactly how it feels in Harvest.

  • One-click timer from browser, desktop & mobile
  • Works inside Jira, Asana, Trello, GitHub & 50+ tools
  • Duration or start/end — your call
  • Day, week & calendar views to stay on top of it all
  • Friendly reminders so no hour gets left behind
Acme Corp
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1:24:09
Content Strategy
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1:30:00
SEO Audit
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0:45:00
Brand Guidelines
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2:15:00
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Today's total 6:54:09

The Mandate for Time Tracking in Germany: Understanding the Legal Landscape

In Germany, employers are required to meticulously record all employee working hours, a mandate reinforced by the Federal Labour Court (BAG) ruling on September 13, 2022. This decision interprets Section 3(2) No. 1 of the German Occupational Health and Safety Act (ArbSchG) in alignment with EU regulations, emphasizing the need for comprehensive time tracking, not limited to overtime. With the proposed amendment from the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, electronic recording of daily working hours could become mandatory by December 2025. However, alternative methods like Excel remain permissible until then.

Such regulations demand that employers capture the start, end, and total duration of working hours, including breaks. The law also stipulates maximum working hours of 8 to 10 hours per day, provided the average does not exceed 48 hours per week over a 24-week period. Non-compliance could lead to fines up to EUR 30,000, highlighting the critical nature of adherence.

Navigating Compliance: Essential Features for a Timesheet App in Germany

Choosing a timesheet app in Germany requires careful consideration of several compliance features. Essential capabilities include precise recording of start and end times, breaks, and overtime, with a preference for daily submissions. Audit trails are crucial to prevent data manipulation, ensuring transparency and reliability.

Integration with local payroll systems such as DATEV enhances operational efficiency, while support for flexible working models, including remote and hybrid work, ensures adaptability. User-friendliness across devices, including mobile and web platforms, is vital for widespread adoption. Harvest, with its flexible time tracking and reporting features, can support various industry needs, although customization may be necessary to meet specific German legal requirements.

Data Privacy and Security: GDPR Compliance in Time Tracking

In the realm of time tracking, GDPR compliance is non-negotiable, as all recorded working hours are considered personal data. This necessitates adherence to GDPR principles including data minimization, purpose limitation, and transparency. Secure data hosting, ideally on servers located within Germany, is crucial to comply with data protection laws.

Timesheet apps must empower employees with rights over their data, including access, rectification, and deletion. Harvest offers robust data security measures that align with GDPR requirements, facilitating secure and transparent data handling. This ensures both compliance and employee trust, essential for any timesheet app operating in Germany.

Implementation and Management: Best Practices for German Businesses

For businesses in Germany, the implementation of a compliant time tracking system involves a strategic approach. Employers remain responsible for the accuracy of records, even if the task is delegated to employees. Involving the works council in the design and implementation is crucial, as they possess co-determination rights.

Time records must be retained for at least two years, with payroll records potentially requiring storage for up to ten years. Businesses must also navigate "Vertrauensarbeitszeit" (trust-based working hours) to ensure compliance without compromising flexibility. Harvest's customizable features support these dynamic needs, offering a robust solution for German businesses striving for compliance.

Explore Harvest for German Compliance

See how Harvest helps businesses in Germany comply with labor laws and GDPR with precise time tracking features.

Harvest timesheet app interface for Germany compliance

Timesheet App in Germany FAQs

  • In Germany, employers must record all working hours, including start, end, and breaks, as per the Federal Labour Court ruling. Electronic recording may become mandatory by December 2025.

  • Timesheet apps in Germany must capture detailed working hours, integrate with local payroll systems, and comply with GDPR. Features like audit trails and data security are essential.

  • GDPR compliance is crucial as working hours are personal data. Apps must ensure data minimization, secure storage, and user rights such as data access and correction.

  • Harvest can be used for time tracking in Germany, offering customizable features to align with various industry needs. However, specific legal compliance may require additional customization.

  • Timesheet apps handle data privacy by adhering to GDPR principles, ensuring secure data storage—preferably on German servers—and granting employees rights over their data.

  • Look for features such as accurate time recording, integration with local payroll systems, GDPR compliance, and support for flexible work models. User-friendliness is also important.

  • Companies with up to 10 employees may be exempt from the electronic recording mandate. However, they must still use alternative methods for time tracking.