Since 1 July 2024, nearly three million Danish employees have been required to record their working hours. Now, nine months later, a survey commissioned by Paychex Europe and conducted by the research institute YouGov* shows that attitudes toward time tracking in Denmark are evolving.
When the law came into effect, a YouGov survey conducted for Paychex Europe in June 2024 showed that half of Danish employees were unaware that they were required to record their working hours. Today, 67% of Danes are aware of the time-tracking requirement.
Transparency and growing acceptance
The survey shows that 45% of respondents believe time tracking increases transparency around working hours and overtime. Women in particular view this development positively. 51% of women see time tracking as a useful tool for increasing transparency, compared with 37% of men. Among young people aged 18–29, as many as 56% believe that time tracking provides a better overview of working hours.
“The survey shows a growing acceptance of time tracking. While some still experience frustration, more and more people are recognizing the benefits, as time tracking improves transparency in managing working hours and overtime. This was exactly the purpose of the directive: to protect employees and support a meaningful dialogue between employer and employee. When both parties have visibility into working hours, tasks can be planned more efficiently. It is positive that half of the working population now sees the value of this change,” says Mette Nørlem, Senior Manager at Paychex Europe and HR expert in employment law.
Daily time registration becomes routine
Interestingly, the survey shows that 40% of employees now record their working hours daily. For many, it has become a routine. The main challenge, however, remains remembering to register time. A total of 33% experience this as a barrier, though this is an improvement compared with 43% in June. At the same time, concerns that time tracking could be used as a control tool have fallen from 35% to 13%.
“Time tracking is still a relatively new routine, but the trend is clear. Although some still perceive it as time-consuming, we see that it is gradually becoming an integrated part of the working day in practice. Companies and employees are beginning to experience the benefits. Over time, we expect to see an even more positive approach and better use of the data that is now becoming available,” comments Mette Nørlem.
Self-organizing employees still create uncertainty
Despite the growing acceptance of time tracking, uncertainty remains about the rules for self-organizing employees – those with the freedom to plan their own working hours. The survey shows that 13% of employees belong to this group, which includes both salaried employees and unskilled workers. However, recent legal rulings emphasize that the definition of self-organizing employees is narrow.
Mette Nørlem warns that companies should not interpret the rules too broadly.
“We see examples of companies classifying employees as self-organizing, even though in practice they do not have the freedom to determine their own working hours. Recent rulings from both Danish courts and the Court of Justice of the European Union make it clear that this exception must be interpreted restrictively. I therefore recommend that companies review employees currently categorized as self-organizing. There are no penalties if one extra employee records their working hours unnecessarily – but there may be consequences if working hours are not recorded when they should be.”
The further development will depend on how companies implement and communicate time-tracking systems, and how the resulting data is used in dialogue with employees.
Get started with simple time tracking
With Paychex Europe’s time-tracking system, Paychex Europe Lessor Workforce, you can easily get started with recording working hours, absence, and mileage for your employees. Learn more about how we can help you get started with Lessor Workforce here.
*The survey was conducted by the research institute YouGov between 18–23 February 2025. A total of 1,015 CAWI interviews were carried out among economically active Danes aged 18+. The results are representative of the population within this target group.
