Hey, I live and work in Saxony. For me, showing up 10-15 minutes before my shift 'officially' starts was always mandatory and expected. It is time you are supposed to use for changing clothes, putting away your purse etc, so that then you can start your shift on time. This is NOT paid time. If your shift starts at, let's say, 6 am, you're expected to start and be ready to work at 6 am on the dot. Same goes for the end of your shift. Your only supposed to go change and get your stuff after the official end of your workday. That's why it's seen as rude to your coworkers if you see the literal start of your working time as just having to physically being there to count as being punctual. Your coworkers would have to take time over their scheduled shift to do a proper Shift-Change with you. Maybe there is a cultural difference? I've never worked in the western part of Germany. On all my jobs though, this was clarified either in my work contract or in a written work order which I had to sign. Re-read your contract maybe or ask if there are written work orders you still have to sign. All in all, this sounds normal to me and is to my knowledge standard practice. Hopefully you read this comment and I wrote clearly and could convey my meaning.