vollzeit

Vollzeit is a German term meaning full-time employment. It denotes a work arrangement where an employee is contracted to a full complement of hours, in contrast to Teilzeit, which means part-time. The term is widely used in German-speaking countries, including Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, and appears in labor statistics, job advertisements, and employment agreements.

Typical weekly hours vary by country and sector but are commonly around 35 to 40 hours. In practice, many German Vollzeit positions specify 38 to 40 hours per week; in Austria, contracts often specify about 40 hours; Swiss standards range around 41–42 hours depending on sector and collective agreements.

Legal framework: The European Union Working Time Directive limits average weekly working time to 48 hours; countries implement their own rules. In Germany, the Arbeitszeitgesetz regulates daily hours (usually 8 hours, and up to 10 hours if averaged to 8 over a reference period), rest breaks, and night work. Overtime rules depend on contract or collective agreements and may be compensated. Vollzeit status affects access to paid vacation, social security contributions, and pension accrual, but actual benefits depend on national law and employer policy.

Vollzeit is contrasted with Teilzeit; a related concept is Vollzeitäquivalent (Vollzeitäquivalent, VZÄ), used to express part-time workloads in terms of full-time equivalents for staffing and budgeting.

In employment practice, Vollzeit denotes a standard full-time role, and job postings may specify weekly hours and benefits accordingly.