Dismissal and Dismissal Protection
Orientation on dismissal letters, the possible three-week court deadline, dismissal protection and the first steps after receiving notice.
Employment Law Knowledge
Understand German employment law and make informed decisions
Practical guidance on dismissals, termination agreements, employment contracts, warnings, references and other key employment-law issues in Germany.
Topic structure
German employment law by topic
Select the subject that most closely reflects the employment situation you need to assess.
Termination Agreements
Key issues when reviewing and negotiating termination date, severance, garden leave, references, bonus claims and settlement clauses.
Severance Payments
Orientation on when severance may be negotiated, which factors influence the amount and how financial and procedural risks interact.
Garden Leave
Information on remuneration, holiday entitlement, revocability, return of work equipment and other consequences of garden leave.
Employment References
Orientation on entitlement, description of duties, performance assessment, conduct and possible correction of an employment reference.
Labour Court Proceedings
An overview of jurisdiction, filing a claim, conciliation hearings, chamber hearings, settlements and costs before German labour courts.
Executives and Senior Employees
Orientation on legal status, contractual responsibilities, changes of position, variable remuneration and negotiated separation.
Managing Directors
Information on corporate office, service agreements, removal from office, termination, remuneration, liability and separation arrangements.
Employment Contracts
Key issues concerning duties, remuneration, working time, workplace, mobility clauses, exclusion periods and post-contractual restrictions.
Warnings
Orientation on the function and content of a warning, possible responses, personnel records and consequences for later dismissal proceedings.
Fixed-Term Employment Contracts
Information on fixed dates, defined purposes, fixed terms without objective justification, extensions, written form and claims for permanent employment.
English topic pages and articles are being published gradually
This page provides a structured English overview of the principal topics. Complete English topic pages are linked as soon as they are published. Untranslated German pages and articles are not presented as though they were English-language content.
Legal advice
Choose the relevant advisory starting point
General information cannot replace an assessment of the applicable contract, deadlines, evidence and intended outcome.
German Employment Law
General advice on employment relationships, disputes, contracts and termination situations under German law.
For Employees
Employment-law guidance for employees facing dismissal, warnings, contract issues or workplace disputes.
For Employers
Strategic support with employment contracts, personnel measures, restructuring and litigation.
Executives and Managing Directors
Advice on senior positions, service agreements, remuneration, removal from office, liability and negotiated exits.
Next step
Employment-law questions should be assessed in their specific context
Contracts, correspondence, deadlines, legal status and the intended outcome should be reviewed together before a binding decision is made.