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Eight-hour day at risk? Ver.di warns against overloading employees!
Event in Weiden on December 6, 2025 to defend the eight-hour day with discussion and surveys on working hours.
Eight-hour day at risk? Ver.di warns against overloading employees!
On December 6, 2025, a crucial event by the ver.di Oberpfalz union took place in Weiden, which dealt with the topic of the eight-hour day. As oberpfalzecho.de reports, there were members of the Bundestag like Dr. Carolin Wagner and Sebastian Roloff in exchange with the members of the union. Alexander Gröbner, managing director of ver.di in the Upper Palatinate district, expressed his criticism of the plans to introduce a maximum weekly working time, which, in his view, could increase the pressure on employees.
The strain on employees is already noticeable, particularly in stress-plagued industries such as logistics, care and retail. “In the run-up to Christmas, employees must be given more relief,” demands Gröbner. His views were also supported by Jens Gotthardt, union secretary of ver.di Oberpfalz, who also advocates maintaining the maximum daily working time of eight hours.
Public opinion and polls
A recent YouGov poll shows that 38% of respondents support abolishing the eight-hour day, while 20% are against it. However, 84% are clearly in favor of clear limitations in order to avoid overwork. 73% of employees reject unlimited daily working hours. The eight-hour day, which was introduced in Germany in 1918, is the result of hard struggles by the labor movement.
A recent study group also demonstrated that shortened working hours often lead to higher productivity. Long working hours, on the other hand, damage the health of employees; The risk of accidents increases from the ninth hour of work onwards. The discussion about a potential extension of working hours is therefore perceived as a significant step backwards. This could also further exacerbate gender inequalities in the labor market, as many employees often have too little time for social engagement.
The relevance of working time organization
In general, the organization of working hours is an important issue for the health and well-being of employees. According to information from dguv.de, the organization of working hours plays a crucial role in maintaining the ability to work. In Germany, around 80% of dependent employees work between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. during the day, while 39% work regularly on weekends.
Shift work also poses a challenge: 18% of employees work in it and are exposed to particular health risks. Long daily working hours of more than nine hours not only increase the risk of accidents, but can also lead to stress and serious health problems. In order to find suitable solutions, the DGUV cooperates with various disciplines to develop practical recommendations.
The reports from ver.di and the DGUV figures make it clear that a discussion about working hours is more than just a political debate. It is a question of the health and quality of life of many employees. A rethink is urgently needed in society in order to sustainably improve working conditions and protect the rights of employees.