All our lawyers regularly advise English-speaking clients and speak English perfectly.
The 15 German terms you will meet — decoded.
- Kündigung — termination/dismissal. Must be on paper with a wet-ink signature.
- Kündigungsschutzklage — dismissal protection claim. Deadline: 3 weeks.
- Aufhebungsvertrag — mutual settlement/termination agreement. Never sign unchecked.
- Abfindung — severance payment. Negotiated leverage, rarely a statutory right.
- Sperrzeit — 12-week unemployment benefit suspension, e.g. after a badly worded settlement.
- Arbeitszeugnis — coded reference letter, legally required and negotiable.
- Probezeit — probation period, max. 6 months, 2 weeks’ notice.
- Befristung — fixed term. Invalid fixed terms become permanent contracts.
- Betriebsrat — works council. Must be consulted before every dismissal.
- Freistellung — garden leave/release from duty to work.
- Wettbewerbsverbot — non-compete; post-contractual only with 50 % compensation.
- Abmahnung — formal warning, usually required before conduct-based dismissal.
- Elternzeit — parental leave, with near-absolute dismissal protection.
- Agentur für Arbeit — employment agency; register within 3 days of notice.
- Rechtsschutzversicherung — legal expenses insurance; we handle the coverage request.