Working Time Study: Without Time Tracking, Most Overtime Hours Are Lost

According to a study, two-thirds of all overtime hours are forfeited without time tracking, whereas with documentation, it is only 11 percent. In light of legal requirements and flexible working models, HR departments are faced with the task of precisely recording overtime and compensating it fairly.

Working Time Study: Without Time Tracking, Most Overtime is Forfeited

A recent study on the working world, published on October 16, 2026, reveals the massive impact that the lack of time tracking systems has on the overtime work of employees in Germany. According to the study, in companies without systematic recording, around two-thirds of all overtime hours worked are forfeited without compensation. In direct comparison, only 11 percent of overtime is lost in companies with established time tracking systems. This discrepancy illustrates that the documentation of working hours is not just an administrative duty, but is decisive for the remuneration or compensatory time off for services rendered. The data underscores the need for action by human resources departments, as the legal frameworks in the European Union and Germany increasingly demand seamless documentation.

The background to this development lies in the increasing flexibilization of the working world, which is often accompanied by trust-based working hours. While this model promises autonomy on the one hand, without technical safeguards it often leads to a blurring of work boundaries. The study proves that employees without tracking tend to perform informal overtime that is neither statistically recorded nor compensated. For Human Resources Management, this means a balancing act: on the one hand, flexibility for the workforce must be maintained, while on the other hand, protection against unpaid overtime must be guaranteed through transparent processes. Professional time tracking systems act here as an objective instance that protects both the employer from legal risks and the employee from self-exploitation.

Implications for Management and Academic Qualification

For graduates of MBA programs and aspiring executives, these findings gain particular relevance. In management positions, overtime is often understood as an implicit part of the job profile. However, the study results show that a modern corporate culture is increasingly based on data-driven transparency. Executives who are prepared for strategic personnel management as part of a Master's degree must understand the introduction and maintenance of time tracking systems as an instrument for employee retention and health prevention. The ability to manage efficiency not through mere presence, but through measurable results within clearly defined timeframes, is developing into a core competence in modern talent management.

Increasing Efficiency through Transparent Processes