Punching in or Burning Out? The Influence of Working Time Recording on Temporal Boundarylessness and Working Time Control

Introduction: Since the European Court of Justice's 2019 ruling, the issue of recording working hours has sparked heated debate in Germany. Some argue that recording work hours can help establish clearer time boundaries, while others contend that it reduces employees' flexibility and autonomy, resembling a return to traditional time clocks. The Effort-Recovery Model (Meijman & Mulder, 1998) suggests that accurately assessing the effort employees put into their work and their subsequent need for recovery is essential for managing stress, preventing burnout, and supporting overall well-being. However, this theory has yet to be empirically tested. This study examines the relationship between working time recording and factors such as temporal boundarylessness, recovery, control over work hours, and work-life balance.