About Andrea von Zelewski
Following her legal training, Andrea worked as a presiding judge at the labour court for six years. During this time, she delivered seminars to works councils and chaired the conciliation committee.
She has lived in Cape Town since 1997, where she completed her Master of Laws (LLM) at the University of Stellenbosch. She then taught labour law at the University of the Western Cape (Cape Town) for ten years. For the past twelve years, she has worked remotely as a research assistant for a German law firm that specialises in labour law and exclusively represents employees and works councils.
Latest Articles
Severance after dismissal without notice in Germany
Job termination
For most employees, a termination without notice comes as a shock. The employment relationship ends from one day to the…
Settlement clauses in German employment law: what to watch out for
Other
Many employees sign termination agreements without carefully checking the “final settlement clause” (Erledigungsklausel). This often results in a significant loss…
Sickness benefits after dismissal in Germany: your rights and duties
Job termination
When you get sick, you first receive your salary from the employer for up to 6 weeks (Entgeltfortzahlung)- and then…
Transfer company and severance pay: background and tips before you move
Job termination
In cases of retrenchments, German law offers a transition solution to delay the unemployment for the employees, the so called…
Can your employer dismiss you during rehabilitation in Germany?
Job termination
Many employees believe that they cannot be dismissed while they are on a rehabilitation programme (Reha or Kur). That is…
Working time under the German Working Time Act: what counts as work?
Employment contract
When does working time actually starts and ends? Is it working time, when you have to change into special work…
Voluntary redundancy programme: the smart route to a fair severance pay?
Severance Pay
Voluntary redundancy programmes (Freiwilligenprogramm) can be a real alternative to dismissals while a company is reducing jobs. They offer many…
Dismissal during the probationary period in Germany
Job termination
The probationary period (Probezeit) gives both employer and employee a chance to work out whether they can work together well…
Termination of an apprenticeship in Germany: rights, deadlines and tips
Job termination
Termination of an apprenticeship follows different rules than those in a standard employment relationship. The Vocational Training Act (Berufsbildungsgesetz, BBiG)…
Conciliation hearing at the labour court in Germany: procedure, tips and what to expect
Job termination
Once an employee has filed a claim at the Labour Court (Arbeitsgericht), they will receive a summons to a conciliation…










