German Employment Rights

“Sozialversicherung” (Social insurance entitlements)http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/SozialversicherungSocial insurance entitlements include “Arbeitslosenversicherung” (Unemployment insurance), “Rentenversicherung” (Retirement benefits), “Krankenversicherung” (Health insurance), “Unfallsversicherung” (Accident insurance), and “Pflegeversicherung” (Long-term care insurance).

“Arbeitslosenversicherung” (Unemployment insurance)http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/ArbeitslosenversicherungIf the employer cancels the contract not due to inculpating actions on the employee's part and the employee has worked for the employer for a period one year and paid into the corresponding insurance, the employee is entitled to 70% of the contractually agreed-upon salary for the following year.

“Rentenversicherung” (Retirement benefits)http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gesetzliche_Rentenversicherung_(Deutschland)

“Krankenversicherung” (Health insurance)http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gesetzliche_Krankenversicherunghttp://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lohnfortzahlunghttp://bundesrecht.juris.de/entgfg/index.htmlIf the employee becomes ill and takes sick time off, the employer must continue paying remunerations to the employee during that sick time for a period of up to six weeks. After that, the health insurance will continue to pay.

“Unfallsversicherung” (Accident insurance)http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gesetzliche_Unfallversicherung_(Deutschland)The employee is entitled to monetary coverage of injuries in cases of on-the-job accidents.

“Pflegeversicherung” (Long-term care insurance):
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pflegeversicherung_(Deutschland)For aged employees.

German employment rights in addition to the social insurance entitlements:

“Bezahlter Urlaub” (Paid vacation)http://bundesrecht.juris.de/entgfg/index.htmlhttp://www.eurogrube.de/ausbildung-beruf-karriere/urlaubsgeld-ans...The employer must continue to pay the employee the contractually agreed-upon remuneration while the employee takes vacation time.

“Elternzeit” (Parental leave)http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/ElterngeldThe German social insurance pays for parental leave; money must be paid into the insurance, and the money for parental leave is paid out of that insurance as well (the employer does not have to pay for the parental leave).If only one parent is taking time off work to care for the child, that parent is entitled to take a total of 10 months off to care for the child. That parent is entitled to 70% of their salary (paid by the insurance) during that time off.If both parents take time off work to care for the child, the parents are entitled to take a total collective time of 12 months off to care for the child (the time is divided between the two of them). The parents can choose how they wish to divide the time between them. They must consecutively take the time off (first the one parent, then the other). The parents are entitled to 70% of their respective salaries (paid by the insurance) during that time off.

The Elternzeit law also includes “Mutterschutz” (Protection of the mother)http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/MutterschutzThe moment a woman becomes pregnant, it becomes illegal for the employer to terminate her contract of employment due to her pregnancy.The mother is entitled to take the above-mentioned time off for the baby.Following the mother's time off, the employer must re-accept her as an employee.

“Kuendigungsrecht” (Law regarding contract termination)Law regarding if and how the employer can terminate the work contract.

“Zeugnisregelung: Anspruch auf einen Zeugnis nach deutschem Recht” (Certificate Rights: The right to a certificate according to German law)The employer is obligated to give the employee a non-negative certificate of performance, with strict regulations regarding its wording. (Codes have developed for employers to tell each other how they really feel the employee's performance was.)