[The employment schedule act--effects on the young surgeon].

Since 1. 1. 96, new regulations of working hours have been introduced in our hospital with regard to emergency service and compensation through leisure time. The average payment was reduced by 23% for surgeons on call. By this means, three additional surgeons could be employed. For every resident in training there is now less time for his residency than before. Sufficient surgical residency requires enough time on the ward and in the operating room. Thus, other conditions for residency programs are necessary to avoid unfulfilled tasks being pushed into the pre-existing area of non-documented working hours. Research and any scientific activity take place in leisure time.