Since 1 January 2001, an employee in Germany who has been with an employer for more than six months may ask to reduce working hours permanently. The employer must agree unless operational reasons stand against it. The right applies in companies with more than 15 employees. Since 1 January 2019, employees may also reduce their hours for a fixed period of one to five years and then return to their former hours. This Brückenteilzeit, bridge part-time, applies in companies with more than 45 employees.