Vocational school
"Vocational school is your free time!"
Your boss says vocational-school time does not count as working time.
§ 15 BBiG
The boss may NOT do that
Wrong! Vocational school = working time!
Since the 2020 BBiG reform this applies to all trainees, minors and adults alike: vocational school is training time. Lesson time is credited including breaks and the necessary travel time between school and company (§ 15 (2) BBiG). A school day with more than five lessons counts once a week with your average daily training time, a block week of at least 25 hours with the average weekly one. The way from home to school is not included.
What the law says
§ 15 BBiG – Crediting
Training companies must release trainees to attend vocational-school lessons. The vocational-school time is credited towards the company training time.
What you can do
- This rule has applied to ALL trainees since 2020 – minors and adults.
- Breaks and the way between school and company are credited too.
- If your company handles it differently, inform the IHK/HWK.
- Enter your school times correctly in your training record.
Email template for your trainer
Subject: Crediting of vocational-school time towards working time
Dear [name of trainer],
I have noticed that vocational-school time is not, or not fully, taken into account in my working-time records.
Under § 15 BBiG (in the version applicable since 2020), vocational-school time including breaks must be credited towards the company training time. This applies to all trainees regardless of age.
I kindly ask that the vocational-school times on my school days be recorded correctly as training time.
Kind regards
[Your name]