Both limits are settings in the employment contract (page 2, "Is daily limit active" and "Is monthly limit active") and are switched off by default. The prefilled values are 10 hours per day and 200 hours per month.

Daily limit

If more time is recorded on a day (after the break deduction) than the limit, KiDig counts only the limit as actual time, split proportionally across the time types. Time additions (Zeitzuschläge) are added on top afterwards; they are not cut.

The daily limit only caps what counts in the balance. It does not check whether the Working Hours Act was followed: under § 3 ArbZG, working time on a working day must not exceed 8 hours. It may be extended to up to 10 hours only if an average of 8 hours per working day is not exceeded within six calendar months or 24 weeks. Time over 8 hours on a working day must be recorded (§ 16 (2) ArbZG); the recorded times stay in KiDig even when the limit cuts them.

Monthly limit

The monthly limit is a ceiling for the surplus-hour balance, not for the hours worked in a month:

  • KiDig calculates the running balance, including the carry-over from the previous year, payouts and write-offs. If it is above the limit after a month, it is cut to the limit. This also applies to the current month that has not ended yet. The cut hours are lost.
  • The contract on the 1st of the month decides. If no contract applies on that day, nothing is cut.
  • Negative hours are not limited.

Example: limit 200 hours, carry-over +250 hours, January worked exactly to target. At the end of January the balance is 200 hours; 50 hours are gone. With a carry-over of −250 hours it stays at −250 hours.

When to switch it on

Only switch the monthly limit on if a works or service agreement provides for such a balance ceiling, for example a flexitime rule or a working-time account under § 10 TVöD. The TVöD itself has no general monthly cap; weekly working time is averaged over up to one year (§ 6 (2) TVöD). Without an agreement, leave the limit off.

Common questions

The carry-over from last year is smaller after January. A monthly limit is switched on and has cut the balance. Check in the contract whether "Is monthly limit active" is intended.

Hours are missing on a long day. The daily limit cut the actual time. The recorded times themselves are unchanged.

More about contracts in Employment contracts and hour settings.

Sources

This is not legal advice. Your collective agreement (for example TVöD or AVR) and your works agreements apply.