Employment Contract
In Germany, a written employment contract is the standard. It should contain information such as salary and holiday entitlement. Before you sign the contract and start to work, you should carefully read the contract before signing it.
Your employment contract must include the following information:
- Your name and the name of the employer including their address.
- The date on which you start as an employee of the company.
- A time limit for example how long your contract will be valid. Check if your contract is limited to a certain period of time or if it is unlimited (unbefristet). With a temporary employment usually the contract contains a specific end date where the employment relationship ends automatically.
- How long you will be required to work per day.
- A description of your tasks and responsibilities.
- Your salary and any benefits that you agreed upon.
- The probationary period: In Germany, employment contracts usually include a probationary period of 6 months. This is the period where the company can terminate the contract on short notice.
- In which location will you work and how often will you have to travel?
- The contract must also specify what happens with your hours of overtime. Employees have the right to be paid for overtime.
- How many vacation days are you entitled? (This often excludes the regional or national public holidays)
Make sure you take the time to review the items in your employment contract and match them with your expectations. If there is something you do not understand ask your recruiter or the company’s human resources manager to clarify it before signing the contract.