An employment contract contains the terms and conditions of your employment, meaning the rules and agreements that apply to your work. For example, it includes information about your working hours, salary, vacation entitlement, or place of work. You and your employer enter into the employment contract together, and both of you sign it. An employment contract can be written (on paper, with signatures) or verbal (spoken, without a written document). A written contract is preferable. However, you also have employment rights if you only have a verbal contract.
Sometimes, an employment contract contains only limited information and states that the rules of a collective agreement (Tarifvertrag) apply. This means that you do not receive an individual contract containing all employment rules specifically for you. The rules in a collective agreement are negotiated by a trade union. A collective agreement protects you and your colleagues, for example by helping to prevent low wages.
You receive the employment contract from your employer. Your employer should give you a signed document that contains all employment terms and conditions. You should have this document before you start working.
Your employment contract may look different, but it should contain the following information:
- Contracting parties: The name and address of your employer and of you
- Start of employment: The date of your first working day
- Place of work: Where do you work?
- Job duties: Your occupation or tasks
- Salary: How much will you be paid? When will you receive your salary?
- Working hours: The number of working hours per week or month and any overtime arrangements
- Vacation: The number of vacation days per year
- Notice period: The time between giving notice and your last working day
- Possibly: Information about collective agreements (Tarifverträge)
- Date and signatures: Employer and employee
