work contracts & salary statements

Frequently asked questions

• I have questions about my employment contract - where can I get advice?

  Counselling centres like the “Faire Integration” (fair integration) or the chamber of employees Bremen will answer your questions about the employment law in Germany. Here you also can talk about your personal employment contract. Please bring your employment contract with you.

• What is a probation?

  When you start to work in a new job, you often have to complete a probation. The lenght of your probation is noted in your employment contract. During the probation the employment relationship can be canceled at any time and without valid reasons by the employer as well as the employee.

• What is meant by minimum wage?

  In Germany usually everyone earns at least 9,19 EUR per houre. That is a law. It should prevent the exploitation of human beings in Germany. But there are exceptions and special arrangements. For example for people, who do an apprenticeship or for people, who have been jobless for a long time but want to re-enter their profession. If you have questions about the minimum wage, you can ask the Jobcenter, the employment agency or the unions.

• How long is a working day in Germany?

  In Germany you usually work maximum 8 hours per day. In exceptional cases 10 hours per day are allowed. If you work more than what is written in your employment contract, your employer either has to pay for this so called “Überstunden”(overtime hours) or has to permit you to take time off on another day. If you have questions regarding this topic, you can contact the unions, the chamber of employees Bremen or the ADA.

• What are special working hours and special payments?

  In some companies you have to work at the weekend, during holidays or at night. This working time is considered as “Sonderarbeitszeit” (outside normal working hours). For this kind of working time you often will be paid better than normally. Your contract should reveal, whether you have to work outside normal working hours and if so, how this time is paid.

• What is an ordinary / extraordinary termination?

  With a termination the employment relationship between employee and emlpoyer ends. If the employee terminates the contract, it is called “Eigenkündigung”. If the employer terminates the contract , it is called “Fremdkündigung”. In your contract it is written, which cancellation period you have to observe.  A cancellation period is the time, that you usually have to keep on working after your termination. Usually the employment relationship is terminated by only one party and the employee keeps on working according to the agreed cancellation period untill he or she leaves the company (ordinary termination). But if there is a important reason for the termination, the termination can be without notice (extraordinary termination). If you terminate the contract without notice or the contract is terminated by your employer without notice, you leave the company immediately.

• What is dismissal protection?

  As employee you are secured by the dismissal protection. Your employer only can terminate your contract, if one of the following reasons applies: – reasons related on the person: for example, if you need a driver’s license for your work and lose it – reasons related on the behavior of the employee: for example if you arrive regularly too late at work – reasons related to the company: for example, if the company can no longer afford to pay your salary For further information about the topic termination you can for example contact the chamber of employees.

• What is a warning notice?

  With a warning, your employer wants to point out to you mistakes that you should avoid in the future. The warning notice will then state what you have done wrong. One reason for a warning is, for example, if you are repeatedly late for work. You can receive a warning in writing, but also verbally. You can find further information on the subject of warning notices here, for example.  

• What does a salary statement look like?

  When you work, you will usually receive a salary statement every month. The payroll shows how much you have earned in that month. Gross income is the amount you earn without deduction of taxes and social security contributions. Taxes and social security contributions are automatically deducted from your salary each month. This includes for example wage tax, health insurance, pension insurance, unemployment insurance or nursing care insurance. The amount that remains is called net income.

  In this pattern you see how a employees payroll can look like. If you have questions about your payroll and your social insurance contribution, you can receive advice from the counselling centre “Faire Integration” or the chamber of employees.

• What is a wage tax certificate?

  When you work, you get an wage tax statement at the beginning of each year. This certificate says, how much money you have earned in the last year und how many taxes you have paid.

• What is a tax identification number?

  If you live and work in Germany, you will receive a tax identification number by mail. With this number the tax office can trace who you are and what taxes you pay. You need the number for example if you want to file an income tax return. If you have forgotten the number, you will find it on your annual income tax certificate or tax assessment, for example. Otherwise, you can obtain your number from the Federal Central Tax Office. 

• What is a tax return?

  With the tax return or income tax return you show the tax office how much money you have earned in one year and how many taxes you have paid. Your tax return will then be used to check whether you have perhaps paid too little or too much tax. If you have paid too much tax, you will be refunded money. If you have paid too little tax, you will have to pay extra money. You can do your tax return yourself using a program such as ELSTER or online. If you need help with your tax return, you can get help from the Chamber of Labour’s tax law advisory service. You can also have your tax consultancy done by a tax consultant. Whether you have to file a tax return depends on your situation. In most cases the tax return is voluntary. In most cases, the tax return for one year must be submitted by 31 May of the following year.   

• What is the statutory minimum leave? How do I take leave?

  Every employee is entitled to take leave. Your employment contract says, how many days per year you can take leave. If you work 5 days per week, you are normally entitled to take minimum 20 days, thus 4 weeks, leave per year. That is the statutory minimum leave. If you want to take leave for a certain period, you have to apply for it to your employer. Your employer has to agree to this application, so that you can take leave for this certain period. If you fall ill during your leave, you should go to a doctor and take sick leave. When you submit the certificate of incapacity, the days of illness during your leave are not considered as leave. You are allowed to catch up on this days in another leave. Further information are listet here.

• Do I get a salary during my leave?

  The vacation days stated in your contract are paid vacation days. That means you get your salary even when you are on vacation. You can also apply for unpaid leave if you need to take longer leave for important reasons. Then you will not receive a salary for the unpaid leave. Your employer must also approve unpaid leave in advance.