An employment contract in Germany establishes a legal relationship between an employee (Arbeitnehmer) and an employer (Arbeitgeber). It outlines the rights and obligations of both parties, ensuring a fair and transparent working relationship. These rights and obligations are governed by German labor law, including the German Civil Code (BGB), the Read more…
Key Changes in Labor Law Starting in 2025 1. Fourth Bureaucracy Relief Act (BEG IV) Electronic Employment Contracts: Employers can now provide essential terms of employment electronically, such as via email, replacing the requirement for signed paper documents. This simplifies employment administration, especially for international hires. Exceptions apply in high-risk Read more…
Key Legislative Changes in 2024 Fourth Bureaucracy Relief Act (BEG IV): From January 1, 2025, essential terms of employment can be provided electronically (e.g., via email) instead of requiring signed paper documents. Exceptions apply to high-risk industries such as construction and hospitality or if the employee specifically requests written documents. Read more…
The rights and duties of the employee, are regulated by individual law and written down in the employment contract. The employee makes his or her work performance available to the employer in return for payment. One of the fundamental condition for an employee ist that there must be a service relationship Read more…
Can your boss just revocate the possibility to do “telework”? Is the consent of the work council necessary? If an employer intends to revoke a telework agreement, it must generally obtain the consent of the works council: Federal Labour Court, decision of 20.10.2021, 7 ABR 34/20. The Case: In a recent Read more…
Welcome to Germany. As an Expat in Germany, you maybe think that Germans always have the perfect regulation for each situation. And yes, you are almost right. Leaving your job has also been regulated legally and there are extreme precise regulations you shall respect If you are leaving your job Read more…
Termination Agreement: What happens in Germany if a contractual termination agreement has been already been signed and the employee dies afterwards? Is the termination agreement still valid? The Landesarbeitsgericht Baden-Württemberg has already decided (judgement of 15.12.2021, 2 Sa 11/21). If the death of the employee occurs during the contract conclusion phase of Read more…
Labour law includes all legal rules relating to a service rendered within the framework of a dependent activity. It can be divided into individual and collective labour law. These two areas are not always clearly distinguishable from each other. The following figure shows an overview of labour law in Germany Read more…
Who are the protagonists of the German Labour Law System? The German labour law system distinguishes between the following protagonists: International workers in Germany? You should have a look at the following article. Employee: An employee in the sense of labour law is someone who works for another in personal dependence Read more…
Leave despite Corona quarantine Order If an employee does not submit a medical certificate of incapacity for work despite an official quarantine order, vacation days will be credited: Cologne Regional Labor Court, judgment of 13.12.2021, 2 Sa 488/21 Employees who have to go into an officially ordered quarantine during their Read more…