When layoffs occur in Germany, employers often offer their employees severance pay. There is not necessarily a legal right for this; In most cases, however, the employer will pay a severance payment. Either “voluntarily”, often only after a corresponding court…
The German Protection against Dismissal Act (KSchG) stipulates that an employer can only terminate an employment relationship if there is a justified reason for layoffs. In addition to the employee’s characteristics and behaviour, grounds for layoffs (Betriebsbedingte Kündigungen) can also…
Can an employer give notice of termination without cause? The legal situation in Germany stipulates that the employer does not always have to provide an explicit reason for the termination. We explain in which cases a “dismissal without cause” is…
Navigating employment law can be complex, particularly when it comes to the rules surrounding the termination of an employment contract. In Germany, employees are provided with significant safeguards through the Protection Against Dismissal Act (Kündigungsschutzgesetz), a key statute that regulates…
A suspension period is when an employee will not receive unemployment benefits (ALG) from the Employment Agency after a dismissal. This blocking period normally occurs if the dismissal is the employee’s “own fault”. Or if a job is given up…
The notice period is an important regulation in German labor law, affecting both employees and employers. It specifies how far in advance notice of termination must be given. If you want to calculate the notice period, there are two types:…
An employer can use a change notice (Änderungskündigung) to revise the previous contractual conditions by canceling the existing labor contract and simultaneously proposing a new contract with amended terms. It is really a dismissal with an option of altered conditions…
A termination during short-time-work (Kurzarbeit) in Germany is generally – legal! There is a widespread misconception that your employer cannot fire you during “short-time-work” (Kurzarbeit). Wrong. Provided that there are (new operational, personal or behavioral) reasons for dismissal, a termination…
Losing your job is never easy. A termination can come entirely “out of the blue” and seriously throw you off track. Especially if you are not familiar with the legal system, do not have a good legal advisor ad hand,…
In Germany, there must be reasons for termination for a dismissal to be considered “fair” and valid. For the majority of employees, who are protected by the German Dismissal Protection Act (KSchG), there are high levels of protection against dismissal.…