Hi,

My wife & I have recently had a child and she is now in the 5th of 12 Elternzeit months. I had planned to take 2 months Elternzeit during the summer too, starting in mid June.

It now looks like I will be changing company in the coming months but my problem is that I am unlikely to sign contracts with the new company until shortly b4 the date I am due to start the Elternzeit. If I do move company, I won't take the Elternzeit.

I don't want to just go and cancel the Elternzeit now, because if it doesn't work out with the new company, then my summer will be all messed up for nothing. (And my current employer will want to know why I am cancelling)

So, does anybody know:

1. What is the latest point I can opt out of planned Elternzeit?
2. Can I hand in my notice to my current employer whilst on Elternzeit or do I have to hand in and serve my notice whilst working normally? (I don't want to mess my current employer around, but I want to know what the possibilities are).

I have searched the german language forums about this, but most of the posts are about the employer trying to sever the contract during the Elternzeit and not the other way around.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.