The employment contract usually refers to gross wages, or this is what is meant, unless you and your employer have agreed otherwise. Your employer is legally obliged to deduct social security contributions from the gross wages, i.e. contributions for health, pension, nursing and unemployment insurance. In the event of default in acceptance or...

The right of direction, also known as the RIGHT TO GIVE INSTRUCTIONS, allows the employer to determine the content, location and time of work at his or her own discretion. However, this only applies if your working conditions are not already specified in your employment contract, a works agreement, an applicable collective agreement or statutory provisions (Section 106 of the German Trade Code). For you, this means...

Discrimination in the workplace is not uncommon. It also happens that employers terminate employees based on certain characteristics and this constitutes discrimination. To prevent this, the General Equal Treatment Act came into force in 2006. The aim of the law is to prevent discrimination on the grounds of race or ethnic origin,...

In a dismissal under duress, your employer is dismissing you because third parties, usually customers, and occasionally the workforce, are putting pressure on them and threatening to stop working with them if they continue to employ you. If the Dismissal Protection Act is applicable, such a dismissal must meet very high requirements. Your employer must first of all…

Voluntary termination means that you submit the notice yourself. Unlike your employer, you do not need a reason for regular termination unless you have agreed otherwise. During a probationary period, you can terminate your employment with two weeks' notice, outside of the probationary period with four weeks' notice, on the 15th or at the end of a month...

If there are differences of opinion between the employer and the works council and they cannot reach agreement, an arbitration board can be formed. The arbitration board consists of an impartial chairman and an equal number of assessors, who are appointed by the employer and the works council. If it is a matter of an enforceable…

Parental leave allows you to take a kind of time off from work to devote yourself to raising your child. You will then no longer be required to perform any work, but you will also no longer receive a salary. Details of those entitled to benefits can be found in Section 15 BEEG. If you are on parental leave, you enjoy special protection against dismissal. Your employer may…

In principle, your future employer has the right to ask you questions during job interviews. However, the questions must be related to the job. This means that the employer must have a legitimate interest in the question and at the same time must not interfere with your personal rights to such an extent that the question becomes inadmissible. For example, if questions are asked…

Freelancers are not EMPLOYEES within the meaning of the Dismissal Protection Act. This means that once the respective order has been completed, no further contractual relationship exists. In particular, no notice of termination needs to be given...

A leave of absence can be agreed with your employer at your request or granted unilaterally by your employer. The leave of absence can be irrevocable, i.e. final, or revocable. In the latter case, you must return to work if your employer revokes the leave of absence...