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Ελληνικά📚 Glossary — 220 German official terms explained
220 German official terms — simply explained
37 terms found
Abfindung (severance payment)
One-time payment by the employer upon termination of employment — no legal entitlement, often agreed in a severance agreement.
Upon dismissal, I was offered a severance package of 3 months' salary.
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Altersteilzeit (Phased retirement)
A model for gradually reducing working hours before retirement.
From age 55, you can request part-time work for older employees at many employers.
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Arbeitsagentur (Employment agency)
Federal Employment Agency — responsible for job placement, career counseling, and unemployment benefits I.
I registered with the employment agency as a job seeker.
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Arbeitsgenehmigung (Work permit)
Permission to work in Germany, often tied to the residence permit.
My residence permit includes work authorization for any type of employment.
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Arbeitslosengeld (Unemployment benefit)
Unemployment insurance benefit (ALG I) for persons who have been insured for at least 12 months.
After being terminated, I applied for unemployment benefits I.
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Arbeitsvertrag (Employment contract)
Written agreement between employer and employee covering tasks, salary, working hours, and notice periods.
Read the employment contract carefully before signing.
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Arbeitszeugnis (work certificate)
Written reference from the employer at the end of employment — entitlement to it is legally guaranteed.
In Germany, every employee has the right to a qualified employment reference.
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Aufhebungsvertrag (termination agreement)
Mutual agreement to terminate an employment relationship — Warning: can trigger a waiting period for unemployment benefits.
The severance agreement included a severance payment and a good employment reference.
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Berufshaftpflichtversicherung (professional liability insurance)
Compulsory insurance for certain professional groups (doctors, lawyers, architects) against damages arising from professional activities.
As a freelancer, I need professional liability insurance.
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Betriebsrat (Works council)
Elected employee representation in companies with at least 5 employees.
The works council has a say in dismissals.
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Bürgergeld (Citizen allowance)
Basic income support for employable people in need (since 2023, successor to Hartz IV / ALG II).
Those without income can apply for Bürgergeld at the employment center.
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Elternzeit (Parental Leave)
Unpaid leave from work to care for a child — up to 3 years per child.
During parental leave, there is special protection against dismissal.
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Gehaltsabrechnung (Salary statement)
Monthly settlement by employer showing gross salary, deductions (tax, social insurance) and net salary.
On the salary statement you can see how much income tax was deducted.
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Geringfügige Beschäftigung (Marginal employment)
Minijob with earnings up to €538 per month (2024) — largely exempt from social insurance.
My minijob at the supermarket is considered marginal employment.
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Gewerkschaft (trade union)
Labor union that negotiates collective agreements and represents workers' interests (e.g., ver.di, IG Metall).
As a union member, I receive free legal protection in labor disputes.
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Handwerkskammer (HWK) (crafts chamber)
Self-governing body of crafts — responsible for master examinations, apprenticeships, and recognition of craft professions.
The Chamber of Crafts recognized my Polish journeyman certificate as equivalent.
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Hartz IV (ALG II) (Hartz IV)
Former name for basic unemployment benefits — replaced by Bürgergeld (Citizens' Allowance) since 2023.
Hartz IV has been called Bürgergeld since January 2023.
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IHK (Industrie- und Handelskammer) (chamber of commerce)
Public representation of commerce and industry — mandatory membership for business operators, examinations, assessment of professional qualifications.
The Chamber assessed my foreign professional qualification.
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Jobcenter (Job center)
Joint facility of the employment agency and municipality — responsible for basic income and job placement.
At the Jobcenter you get help with job search and financial support.
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Kurzarbeit (short-time work)
Reduction of working hours due to economic difficulties — short-time working allowance compensates part of lost earnings (60–67 %).
During the pandemic, millions of employees were on short-time work.
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Kündigung (termination)
Unilateral termination of a contractual relationship — in writing, observing the required notice periods.
The notice of termination must be in writing and signed personally.
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Kündigungsfrist (notice period)
Period between termination notice and actual end of employment — minimum 4 weeks by law.
My notice period is 3 months at the end of the quarter.
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Kündigungsschutz (dismissal protection)
Legal protection against unfair dismissal — applies in companies with more than 10 employees after 6 months of employment.
Thanks to protection against dismissal, my employer could not simply fire me.
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Lohnfortzahlung (wage continuation)
Continuation of salary payment during illness — employer pays up to 6 weeks, then sick pay from insurance.
In case of illness, an employee receives 6 weeks of wage continuation from the employer.
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Midijob (Midijob)
Beschäftigung mit einem Verdienst zwischen 603,01 € und 2.000 € — reduzierte Sozialversicherungsbeiträge für den Arbeitnehmer.
Im Midijob zahle ich weniger Sozialversicherungsbeiträge als bei einer normalen Beschäftigung.
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Minijob (mini job)
Minor employment with earnings up to €538 per month — taxed as a flat rate, no social security obligation (except pension insurance).
Many students work in a mini job to earn some extra money.
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Mutterschutz (maternity protection)
Legal protection for pregnant employees — employment prohibition 6 weeks before and 8 weeks after birth.
During maternity protection, an employee cannot be terminated.
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Probezeit (Probation period)
Initial phase of employment (maximum 6 months) with shortened notice period of 2 weeks.
During the probationary period, both parties can terminate with 2 weeks' notice.
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Scheinselbstständigkeit (false self-employment)
Situation where a self-employed person actually works like an employee — legally problematic, risk of social insurance contribution repayment.
If someone works for only a single client, there is a risk of being classified as falsely self-employed.
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Sperrfrist (Lock-in period)
Period during which unemployment benefits are not paid — e.g., after voluntary resignation or severance agreement (up to 12 weeks).
Anyone who quits voluntarily receives a 3-month waiting period for unemployment benefits.
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Tarifvertrag (collective agreement)
Contract between trade union and employer association — regulates wages, working hours, vacation, and special payments.
Thanks to the collective agreement, I get 30 days of vacation and Christmas bonus.
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Teilzeitarbeit (Part-time work)
Employment with fewer hours than the usual full-time working hours — right to part-time work after 6 months in companies with 15+ employees.
Since the birth of my child, I have been working part-time (20 hours per week).
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Urlaubsanspruch (holiday entitlement)
Statutory minimum vacation of 24 working days (on a 6-day week) or 20 working days (on a 5-day week) per year.
My employment contract provides for 30 days of vacation per year.
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Werkvertrag (work contract)
Contract for the creation of a specific work or result — not an employment relationship, but watch out for sham self-employment.
The cleaning company works on a work contract basis for our office.
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Zeitarbeit (temporary work)
Employee leasing — the employee is hired by a temporary employment agency but works at various client companies.
Through temporary work, I quickly found a position in logistics.
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Öffentlicher Dienst (public service)
Employment with the federal government, states, or municipalities — civil servants or employees under TVöD/TV-L collective agreements.
In public service, one generally has secure employment and good retirement benefits.
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Überstunden (overtime)
Working time exceeding the number of hours agreed in the contract — remuneration or time off compensation depending on the contract.
My overtime is paid with a surcharge of 25%.
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