Remaining leave and overtime: What needs to be considered?

With the end of the year in sight, many employees are faced with the question: Do I have to take my remaining annual leave for 2024? And what is the priority - reducing overtime or taking the remaining annual leave?

Obligation to take annual leave in the current calendar year
Under German labour law, employees are generally obliged to take their annual leave in the current calendar year. Any remaining leave not taken by the end of the year is generally forfeited. Unless there are urgent business or personal reasons to justify carrying over leave to the following year. However, in certain circumstances, such as prolonged illness, leave may be carried over to the new year - normally only up to 31 March.

Remaining annual leave or overtime reduction - which comes first?
For many people, the question of which comes first - the reduction in overtime or the remaining holiday - also arises. It is advisable to take the remaining leave first to avoid losing it. Overtime can often be reduced more flexibly if this is agreed with the employer. A clear agreement with the employer will help to clarify priorities and avoid misunderstandings.

Create transparency by tracking working hours.
Accurately recording working hours is crucial to keeping track of things. With a digital time and attendance solution, working hours are documented in an independent and legally compliant manner. Employees and employers can see at a glance how much holiday and overtime is left. Transparent documentation helps in discussions with superiors. It also makes it possible to identify any need for action to reduce overtime in order to regulate excessive workloads at an early stage.

Recommendation: Use an app or a terminal to record working hours.
Modern time recording terminals can be used to create transparency with regard to working hours and remaining holidays. INTUS time recording terminals, for example, provide a reliable display of employee balances and overtime. Used as a checkpoint, the terminals welcome employees with a customised and user-friendly interface. With an intuitive touch screen and integrated speaker, the modern time recording terminals are ideal as a central point for employee communication within the company.
 

Employees working from home can book their working hours via the INTUS FTC app, eliminating the need to keep paper records. Digital time recording provides comprehensive data on the workload and overtime situation of employees and can help to prevent overwork and burnout.