Contract form and duration
Unbefristet versus befristet, written form requirements, and what a missing end date usually means. We practice spotting Sachgrund language and chain-contract risk.
German labor law basics for newcomers
A field map—not a statute book—for English speakers entering German employment for the first time.
Why this page exists
Employment consultations in Germany often stall because newcomers do not know which vocabulary opens a useful conversation. This page names the clusters we teach first inside Dataruntimepath programs.
Nothing here is personal legal advice. It is orientation so you can ask sharper questions of HR, a Betriebsrat, or a licensed attorney.
Working time and rest
Arbeitszeitgesetz ceilings, Restpausen, and how Betriebsvereinbarungen sometimes reshape evening work. Useful before you accept “always-on” culture as inevitable.
Leave and public holidays
Statutory minimum vacation, accrual during Probezeit myths, and how state holidays differ when you travel between Bundesländer for work.
Early exit and protection thresholds
Newcomers often hear “Germany makes firing impossible.” Reality is more timed: Probezeit notice, small-business thresholds, and Kündigungsschutz timelines matter more than slogans.
Our Foundations modules walk through sample letters and calendars so you know when documentation should start—not after a conflict peaks.
Browse programs Ask a counselor