German labor law regarding part-time claims for disabled employees

Under German social law, employees with severe disabilities or those legally equated to them may have a specific claim to reduced working hours. According to Section 164 of the SGB IX, an employer must grant part-time employment if a reduction in hours is deemed necessary due to the nature or severity of the disability.

This individual right applies to persons with a degree of disability (GdB) of 50 or higher, as well as those with a GdB of 30 or 40 who have been officially equated to persons with severe disabilities by the Employment Agency. It is important to note that a disability certificate alone does not automatically entitle an employee to shorter hours or a specific schedule, nor does it guarantee the maintenance of a full-time salary.