All our lawyers regularly advise English-speaking clients and speak English perfectly.
The formula HR quotes is not the law. „Half a gross monthly salary per year of service“ is a courtroom convention — a starting point, not an entitlement and not a cap.
What actually drives your number
- Litigation risk for the employer: the weaker the dismissal, the higher the factor — 1.0 to 1.5+ monthly salaries per year are realistic when the dismissal is likely to fail.
- Special protection: pregnancy, disability, works council membership can multiply the package.
- Time pressure on the employer: restructuring deadlines and headcount targets are your leverage.
- Everything beyond the headline: bonus, equity, garden leave, termination date, reference letter — see our exit package page.
A realistic example
Redundancy after 14 years, first offer 1.5 monthly salaries. After four weeks of negotiation — without going to court — the result was 8 monthly salaries. The difference was not a formula. It was pressure applied at the right points.