Kündigung — Notice Periods, Severance Pay, and Work Certificate

Termination of Employment

Kündigung in Germany is subject to strict regulations. Whether you resign or are dismissed — know your rights.

Statutory Notice Periods (§ 622 BGB)

The basic notice period is 4 weeks to the 15th or end of a calendar month. For employers, the period increases with length of service:

| Length of Service | Notice Period |
|----------------------|-----------------||
| 0–2 years | 4 weeks |
| 2 years | 1 month to end of calendar month |
| 5 years | 2 months to end of calendar month |
| 8 years | 3 months to end of calendar month |
| 10 years | 4 months to end of calendar month |
| 12 years | 5 months to end of calendar month |
| 15 years | 6 months to end of calendar month |
| 20 years | 7 months to end of calendar month |

Formal Requirements

• Kündigung must be in writing (signed on paper)
• Email, SMS, or verbal Kündigung are invalid
• The date of receipt counts, not the date on the letter

Severance Pay

There is no legal entitlement to severance pay. However, in practice:
- Aufhebungsvertrag: Employers often offer 0.5–1.0 gross monthly salaries per year of employment
- Kündigungsschutzklage: Often settled with a settlement (= severance pay)
- Sozialplan: In mass layoffs, the works council determines severance payments

Work Certificate

After any Kündigung, you have the right to a qualified work certificate:
- Must be benevolent in tone
- Contains: job description, performance, conduct
- Hidden codes: "always to our complete satisfaction" = grade 1, "to our satisfaction" = grade 4
- Timeline: Request it immediately — statute of limitations after 3 years

Unfair Dismissal Claim

If you believe the Kündigung is unjustified:
- Deadline: File suit within 3 weeks of receiving the Kündigung at the labor court
- Costs: At first instance, each party bears its own attorney costs
- Use legal protection insurance or legal aid (for low income)

Resigning Yourself

• Observe the notice period (check your employment contract!)
• Warning: Voluntary resignation may trigger a 12-week benefit lock-out for unemployment benefits
• Search for a new job beforehand, if possible

As of: March 2026. All information without guarantee.