Part-time request
Berlin and across Germany

Part-Time Request in Employment Law - Employment Lawyer
Request, refusal, and working-time model in Germany

If working time is to be reduced or rearranged, the key issues are often the legal requirements for a part-time request, the employer's operational reasons, and how a request or refusal should be assessed.

These are usually the points that matter most in employment disputes:

  • Review of whether the requirements for a part-time request are met
  • Assessment of the request, proposed work pattern, and the employer's response
  • Evaluation of whether the refusal appears supportable or challengeable
  • Clear lawyer guidance on the next sensible step

You receive clear guidance on whether the part-time request was properly made and how to deal with a refusal.

Important: In working-time matters, proper drafting of the request and concrete scheduling proposals often matter a lot.

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Employment-law first assessment
Part-time request review

What a part-time request review usually covers

Request and requirements

Review of whether the request was made in a formally and substantively proper way.

Working-time pattern

Assessment of how the reduction and distribution of working time should be structured.

Employer refusal

Evaluation of whether the refusal rests on supportable operational reasons.

Link to other measures

Clear guidance on whether working-time issues are tied to change notices or parental-leave situations.

Open the change-notice page

Frequently asked questions

Can the employer simply refuse part time?

Not automatically. The key issue is whether the refusal rests on supportable reasons.

Does the concrete distribution of hours matter?

Yes. The dispute often concerns not only whether part time is possible, but how it should work.

Can this be linked to parental leave?

Yes. Part-time issues arise particularly often in connection with parental leave.

Open the parental-leave page

Can working time become the subject of a change notice?

Yes. In that case, it should be clarified early whether a change notice is in play.

Open the change-notice page

Is this part of general employment law?

Yes. Working-time and part-time issues are classic contract and dispute topics in employment law.

Open employment law page

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Thank you so much for your prompt assistance in my rather complex case. I can highly recommend you – reliable, friendly, and straightforward!

Luisa Kr

3 months ago

Fast case processing, very friendly contact, would gladly use their services again (not the accident itself, but the handling of the case by Dr. Lerch...)

Dénes B.

2 weeks ago

Mr. Lerch provided me with highly professional, calm, and dedicated support throughout my legal proceedings. I particularly appreciated his honest assessment of my case and the clear communication he maintained throughout the entire process. Thanks to his strategy and preparation, we achieved a significantly better outcome than originally anticipated in the penalty order. I felt well-advised and taken seriously at all times. I can therefore wholeheartedly recommend Mr. Lerch and thank him again for his support. B. Paal

How it works

Step 1

Send the documents and situation

You send the key documents and briefly explain the situation and any immediate time pressure.

Step 2

Have it legally reviewed

I review deadlines, legal challenge points, economic risks, and your negotiating position.

Step 3

Receive clear guidance

You receive clear guidance on which response or strategy makes sense.

Step 4

Implement the next steps

If further action makes sense, negotiation, correspondence, or court steps are implemented in a structured way.

About Dr. Lerch

Dr. Philipp Lerch advises clients with a focus on clear legal assessments, precise communication, and economically sensible outcomes. In part-time matters, it is often crucial to separate the legal requirements, the working-time model, and the employer's reasons carefully.

Philipp Lerch
Dr. Philipp Lerch

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