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Working hours

"Changing clothes is your own time — before and after."

You have to put on work clothes at the company, but the time does not count.

§ 611a BGB / BAG-Rechtsprechung

It depends …
If you must change at work, changing is working time.
The Federal Labour Court distinguishes: if the company prescribes specific clothing and you must put it on at work (hygiene, protective clothing, conspicuous uniforms you cannot or should not put on at home), then changing, including the way to the changing room, counts as working time and must be paid. If you may put the clothes on at home and wear them inconspicuously on the way, changing is your own business. Collective agreements may have their own rules. For trainees, this time counts as training time — and therefore also towards the maximum limits.

What the law says

§ 611a BGB – Employment contract
The activity demanded by the employer is remunerated; this includes changing for the employer's benefit when clothing must be put on at work.
BAG 19 Sep 2012 – 5 AZR 678/11
Changing times and the internal walks to change are paid working time if changing must take place at work.

What you can do

  1. Ask whether you may put the clothes on at home — everything depends on that.
  2. Note how long changing and the walk to the changing room really take.
  3. The company must provide protective and hygiene clothing (see "protective clothing").
  4. Check the collective agreement — it often sets a flat changing time.
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