Employee rights in Germany: Sudden termination, employer stops paying wages, etc.


New here? Check out GermanPedia
Did someone forward you this? Subscribe to this newsletter.

Your unfair advantage in Germany

Employer refused to pay wages

Yesterday, I came across a Facebook post about the employer not paying three months of work wages. The affected person was asking for advice in a Facebook group.

The individual and many writing in the comments didn't know their rights.

As an employee, getting a salary every month is your right. If the employer refuses to pay the wages, they are punishable by law.

Learn what you can do in such a situation here.

Employer forcing you to sign the termination letter

Another trending post in Germany is employers forcing employees to sign a termination letter. Again, forcing anyone in Germany to sign a document is illegal.

You have the right to review the document before signing it. If the employer doesn't give you time to review and forces you to sign immediately, you can call the police to protect yourself.

Furthermore, you should hire a lawyer specialized in labor law to negotiate the severance package with the employer. Don't be afraid of your employer, and never hesitate to exercise your rights.

You don't get what you deserve. You get what you fight for.

We know lawyers are expensive in Germany. This is why we recommend everyone get legal insurance in Germany.

Legal insurance covers the legal costs and offers free legal advice on the phone. You can compare the legal insurance offers on Check24* or Verivox*. If you want a service in English, check Getsafe* and Feather* legal insurance.

New on GermanPedia

Deduct unlimited home office costs from the 2023 tax return

From the 2023 tax year, you can deduct unlimited home office costs from your tax return. No more maximum limit on the home office costs.

The tax office even increased the home office allowance to 6 € per day. Moreover, the number of days you can claim the home office flat rate is 210 days now.

Do you have income from outside Germany? You must declare it in your tax return

Unlimited tax applies to every resident of Germany. This means you must pay tax on all income, regardless of in which country you earn it.

So, if you earn rent from a property in Dubai, you must declare it in German tax returns. The same applies to income from emplyoment, interests, dividends, capital gains, business, etc.

Freebies

Check out our shop to download freebies like rental contracts, checklists, books, etc. We created several free products to make settling in Germany easy for you.

Disclaimer

The information provided here is based on our own experience and in-depth research. The content might be inaccurate. It should not be considered financial, insurance, tax, legal, or any kind of advice.

We are not certified brokers or consultants. Always do your research and contact certified professionals before making any decision. GermanPedia disclaims any and all liability for damages or losses arising from the use of this document.

We finance our extensive work via affiliate links. Thus, some or all of the links in the post might be affiliate links.

We get money if you click on such a link or conclude a contract with the provider without costing you a cent extra.

Investment involves risk of losing money.

All links marked with the "*" are affiliate links.

GermanPedia

Learn something new about Germany every day. We cover every aspect of life in Germany: insurance, tax, real estate, schooling, scams, etc.

Read more from GermanPedia
A wooden block spelling credit on a table

New here? Check out GermanPediaDid someone forward you this? Subscribe to this newsletter. Your unfair advantage in Germany We brought you another free webinar with a labor law lawyer. If you want us to organize a webinar on a particular topic and/or with a specific professional, simply reply to this email and share. Essentials Health : The age for mammography screening is reduced from 50 to 45. If you are in the age group 45 to 49, you can get the mammography screening for early breast...

scrabble tiles spelling out the word gender on a wooden table

New here? Check out GermanPediaDid someone forward you this? Subscribe to this newsletter. Your unfair advantage in Germany Essentials Finance : The government plans to pay 10 € per month toward your child's retirement. It is part of the proposal "Frühstart-Rente". The law is expected to pass in 2026. The state will pay €10 per month into a personal pension investment account for each child aged 6–18 attending school in Germany. Read more -> Finance : Investing in German new builds. We had a...

Ruined house with broken roof and windows overgrown trees

New here? Check out GermanPediaDid someone forward you this? Subscribe to this newsletter. Your unfair advantage in Germany Essentials Belated happy International Women's Day to every woman who shows up, leads with strength, and lifts others along the way. 🌸 Finance : Your statutory pensions will increase by 4.24% on July 1, 2026. [1] Health : You can file a complaint against a doctor or a hospital if you believe the treatment they provided was incorrect. It's always recommended to first...