Written By: Dana Mustafa AlKahlout, Reviewed By: Dr. Ibrahim Abu Riash, Edited by: Majed Jaber.
Table of Contents
What is medical residency like in Germany?
This post will cover everything you need to know about your work as a physician in Germany, this will include working hours, extra hours, and vacations.
We have all watched medical TV shows where doctors spend a tremendous amount of hours at hospitals, they work 36-48 hours shifts straight, I don’t even remember seeing how their homes look like!
So we start worrying is that the life waiting for us?
Well hopefully not, at least not in Germany.
As determined by German law, working hours for all jobs should not exceed 40 hours per week, this also applies to doctors.
However, these hours are usually not enough for medical residents, so hospitals add a part in the employment contract that implies you will have to work extra hours if it is required from you.
So is it time to start panicking?
Again, NO!
Those extra hours are also extra paid, which means your salary will increase the more hours and night shifts you work. And also you are not allowed to work more than 24 hours straight, no 36, no 48 no Grey’s anatomy.
What does a night shift look like?
In night shifts you arrive at work at 11 am and leave at 8 am the next day, this could be less or more. And of course, you take your next day off.
How does a typical day look like?
You arrive at 8 am and leave at 4 pm.
Are working hours different between medical specialties?
Two variables affect the number of needed extra hours
First, the number of available doctors at the department you are working in, for example, if there are 10 doctors other than you, you will need to work less than if there were 5 other doctors
Second the demand of the medical specialty you are working with?
Surgical specialties usually require more working hours, more than 70 per week.
Now to the best part, vacations!
Vacations allowed for a doctor in Germany are 28-30 days per month.
Plus…
Do you remember the extra hours we mentioned earlier that you will get paid for? Well, some hospitals especially the central ones tend to give you vacations instead of paying.
Important note regarding vacations
You have to take them every year, you are not allowed to postpone them or gather them together for later.
Check our Germany Pathway page:
https://mdguidance.com/category/germany-pathway/
So you have to enjoy your vacations every year, and our posts!
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