Questions tagged [germany]
Questions about the workplace that may specifically relate to cultures or customs in Germany
499
questions
3
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1
answer
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Is it normal/legal in Germany for employer to withhold salary until work equipment is returned?
My contract ended 30th November and I didn't receive my November Salary. My boss says that my salary will only be released after my work laptop and phone are released. The combined cost is about 450 ...
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votes
3
answers
634
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Should employees get promotion as soon as they show some higher qualities? [closed]
I work as a test automation engineer at a software company in Germany.
Recently, I asked for a promotion after 3.5 years, but my request was turned down because my manager thinks I haven't been "...
- 1,393
18
votes
5
answers
11k
views
Is an employee responsible for damage to their employer's laptop due to wear and tear? [closed]
The key cap of my employer's laptop popped off. If I report it to my employer, am I responsible for the cost of fixing the damage?
I know that large companies have It departments for dealing with ...
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1
vote
2
answers
1k
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How do I tell my employer that I do not want to go on long-distance business trips?
Research
My searches here on Workplace didn't answer my question because the focus was, for example, on family reasons or if there was any doubt about the necessity of the business trip. The most ...
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4
votes
3
answers
1k
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How to handle a request of quantitative benefit analysis from top management where only a qualitative statement can be made?
Some months ago, I took over the project management (together with a collegue from engineering, my responsibility is the scope of operations) for a project from a colleague who had left. The project ...
- 215
4
votes
5
answers
3k
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How to deal with an unproductive colleague ( supposedly due to medication)?
I work in a medium-sized company in Germany, which is part of a fairly large corporation. In my department there are two teams in one office space. We all get along very well, but recently the mood is ...
- 215
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votes
1
answer
371
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Am I required to record doctor's appointments as absences?
I informed my boss that I have a doctor's appointment at 11 am and 5 pm on different days. He responded with the following message telling me to record my doctor's appointments as absences on my ...
- 1,148
-7
votes
4
answers
513
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Can I continue to use American express card during notice period?
I have an American express credit card Mastercard from my employer which I haven't used. I want to know if I can use it without any consequences before my notice period is over? I'm thinking of using ...
- 1,148
2
votes
4
answers
1k
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Bosses are simultaneously demanding I document my work, and also trying to prevent me from doing any work
My bosses are simultaneously demanding I document my work while preventing me from doing any work.
I assume they are trying to somehow get around my 3 month notice period. They demand I enter details ...
- 1,148
13
votes
3
answers
8k
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Can an employer exclude you from all meetings during the notice period? [closed]
After I refused to resign, I got put on my notice period which is 3 months. I have been excluded from all online and onsite meetings in the company, but I'm expected to report to my boss via chat, ...
- 1,148
3
votes
6
answers
2k
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Is it common to demote a new employee due to low salary?
Recently, I was interviewed for a senior position in a well-known company. The interview process was smooth and pleasant but challenging from the technical perspective. In the end, I received an offer ...
- 173
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5
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912
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Company wanted me to fill a personality test, I consequently lied, what now?
So they wanted it from me as part of my initiation. I dislike if they try to dig in my brain. So instead the true answers, I used my job interview experience to estimate, which answers would they like ...
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4
answers
2k
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How to prevent being unfairly fired and what to do about it
This is a followup from this question: My manager warned me about absences on short notice
I was adviced to open a new question.
I made a mistake in not telling my boss about an outpatient appointment ...
- 1,148
16
votes
7
answers
11k
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My manager warned me about absences on short notice
In the morning about two hours before a meeting I messaged by manager to tell them I was going to a doctors appointment and I would miss the morning meeting, and asked to reschedule it (it's a small ...
- 1,148
3
votes
1
answer
754
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Employer asks to be ready for potential weekend work
Question:
Can I ask for compensation for reserving my weekend for potential weekend work?
This seems to be a gray zone, since this is not a on-call duty given that I know the day before I have to work ...
- 443
7
votes
7
answers
5k
views
Making my company more appealing to a more diverse group of people (LGBTQIA+, BIPoC)
My company's workforce is mainly white, heterosexual and cis-male.
Partly this is due to a lack of available hires in my industry (software/robotics).
Still, I would wish we could also attract other ...
- 437
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votes
4
answers
1k
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Can I challenge a hiring decision?
I apologise if this was asked before. I couldn't find a suitable question in spite of searching all possible keywords.
I got rejected for an entry-level quantitative analyst position at one of the ...
user88396
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votes
1
answer
212
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Applying for jobs, an offer is coming... and I do not know, it is the last or the best [duplicate]
Problem is the following. I applied recently for a lot of jobs (approx. 30), call them Company_1 to Company_30.
After many rejections, now an offer came from company Company_17. It is not very good (...
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1
vote
7
answers
1k
views
What does "salaried" vs. "hourly" mean in a European (?) context?
I am confused about the meaning of "salaried" vs. "hourly" payment, when it comes to matching it up with work life as I know it.
I think I know the abstract definition; to ...
- 1,309
4
votes
3
answers
891
views
Why the HR not answering or replying to my emails, after I passed all interview stages?
Recently was approached in Germany by well-known electric cars manufacturer in Berlin, it is their first factory in Europe and they need construction professionals for the new construction expansion.
...
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13
votes
5
answers
2k
views
My successor and her future primary contact do not get along
For several years, I have been working as the technical lead of a team of 7 engineers responsible for one part of a large project in a company based in Germany. As a team lead, my tasks included ...
- 141
3
votes
1
answer
549
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Is it polite to keep a contract offer "on hold" while I wait for other offers to potentially materialize?
I am in the process of changing jobs.
I have sent my CV around quite a bit in the last months and I finally landed some interviews.
Most of them have been for the same company, but different ...
- 41
1
vote
3
answers
2k
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When to quit in Germany based on vacation days?
Just based on Vacations and notice periods, when is the optimal date to quit in Germany?
For instance, I have a notice period of three months starting from the end of the month that I have ...
- 21
4
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Company has no work for me, responsible bosses disappeared, how to defend myself? [closed]
This is a continued story of my previous question. The essence:
Company is very old in the German IT market, it survived probably everything imaginable and not imaginable here.
It has practically no ...
- 4,833
7
votes
10
answers
4k
views
Why is getting fired or laid off such a big deal for employees in the West?
I come from a developing country, and there's one thing I can't understand about Westerners: why is getting fired or laid off such a big deal for many of them? My impression is that many Westerners ...
- 1,083
-2
votes
1
answer
381
views
How to ask new boss for contract with new start date?
After signing the contract, my start date was delayed by a month to 1st February but I still haven't received a contract with the new start date. I mentioned this when I had lunch recently with my ...
- 1,148
-7
votes
1
answer
346
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How to approach meeting with new boss after I delayed start date due to medical reasons
I was set to start a new job, but had to postpone due to medical reasons.
New boss scheduled a short meeting after postponing my January start date by a month.
Should I be worried and if he asks do I ...
- 1,148
2
votes
3
answers
828
views
When will overtime be compensated after you leave a company in Germany?
Until end of 2022 I worked for a company in Germany for quite some time, until I sent my resignation letter and decided to move on.
My contract was a "Tarifvertrag", which regulated also the ...
- 1,563
0
votes
2
answers
518
views
Multiple jobs in EU [closed]
I am working as an IT professional in Germany and a blue card holder.
I am offered a very lucrative job in Netherlands which is another EU member state and definitely want to accept it.
I want to know ...
- 19
-1
votes
1
answer
643
views
How to delay start date of new job? [closed]
I'm set to join a small tech start up in January 2023 but because of a health problem I need to delay my start date by at least one month so I can get treatment. How do I achieve this safely in this ...
- 1,148
4
votes
3
answers
912
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Employer has no projects, I am looking for new jobs to prevent firing, how to say why do I want to switch?
So, that is the situation. The employer is good, except it has a bad disadvantage.
It has a closed, fixed customer circle and no sales. If this narrow set of customers have no work for us, then we ...
- 4,833
15
votes
8
answers
4k
views
How to tactfully decline overtime caused by bad decisions?
Situation:
I've been hired as a senior software engineer in a small team to support an existing project where the coding is done by employees without software engineering background and without IT ...
- 443
23
votes
11
answers
4k
views
Is it appropriate to voice concerns over the Qatar world cup when colleague asks people to join betting pool?
A couple of days ago, a colleague sent an email to the whole staff asking if anyone would be interested in joining their (very low key) betting pool for the World Cup (Football/Soccer) that is taking ...
- 1,371
121
votes
32
answers
31k
views
My employer is demanding that I change my lifestyle
I work as a researcher in Germany and have recently been approached by the boss's secretary and told what can be summarized as follows:
Hey, we pay you one of the top salaries in our research group, ...
- 1,083
2
votes
1
answer
731
views
Is it legal in Germany to start a project in Kickstarter while working in a company? [closed]
I live in Germany and have an idea to start my own business here. However, I am not sure whether I am allowed to do this while working officially in a company. I just want to share my project on ...
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-4
votes
1
answer
423
views
What are feasible options of self-employment for mathematicians?
So I'm a mathematician in Germany wondering about alternatives to corporate life. To give some more background, I specialized in insurance mathematics, with some sound knowledge in finance and ...
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2
votes
1
answer
692
views
Notice Period + Contractual leave days in Germany
Hi I am about to leave my job in Berlin and there are 3 things not exactly clear to me regarding the notice period and the other ones regarding leave days accumulation:
I passed the probation and ...
- 21
2
votes
5
answers
1k
views
Can I ask my company to let me take my online training course during office hours?
As a data scientist in Germany, I have to constantly keep myself updated regarding the tech-tools and new concepts in the field. Some of them are easily done by spending a couple of hours reading some ...
- 2,023
49
votes
4
answers
12k
views
Should I tell my prospective employer that I drafted my own reference letter?
In Austria, Germany and Switzerland, your employer is obliged by law to write you (the employee) a reference letter ("Arbeitszeugnis" in German) when you leave. In some cases you can even ...
- 477
0
votes
1
answer
796
views
Terminate a contract with a German employer before starting working. Any consequences if I'm living abroad?
I'm from Latin America and signed a contract with a German company in February. Since then, the company has been handling my relocation to Germany.
I'm still waiting for the pre-approval of my work ...
- 218
-7
votes
1
answer
385
views
To which day is a nightshift attributed? [closed]
Suppose one works the nightshift from Tuesday 10 PM to Wednesday 6 AM.
Would this be considered Tuesdays work or Wednesdays work?
Is the nightshift attributed to the day it starts, or to the day it ...
- 109
5
votes
5
answers
2k
views
How to deal with a resisting collegue as a newcomer
I just started a new job. One colleague is supposed to help me with the onboarding, but from the first encounter, he seems very resistant.
He never replies to kind words like "Thank you" and ...
5
votes
3
answers
4k
views
Accepted the offer, sent contract back with my signature, but the company seems to delay signing it
Recently I received an offer from a (software) company. I read and accepted it by printing the contract and signing it, then sending it back to the company (2 copies). The company confirmed it ...
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7
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Can I transfer my left over annual leave to a new company?
I will be quitting Company A on May 31st and I will be having a total of 11.5days leaves until 31st May.
I do not want to get compensated for these leaves and want to take over to my next Company B ...
- 447
3
votes
4
answers
2k
views
When do I need to resign?
I started a new position in Germany in December. I'm currently in a probation period of 6 months, ending May 31st. During the probation period, my notice period is two weeks. After the probation ...
- 115
-1
votes
1
answer
556
views
How binding is a signed Offer from a USA-based firm in Germany? [closed]
I'm in Germany. Shortly I got a job offer from a USA-based firm. I've signed this offer. The firm currently registers a german business entity registered and active at the end of Mai 2022. After ...
- 107
1
vote
2
answers
486
views
Working without contract in unusual situation
I work in a company that employs people all around the world (remotely). Since it does not have bases in particular countries, their employees are essentially contractors that renegotiate the ...
50
votes
5
answers
10k
views
Should I apply for my dream job even if I expect to be on maternity leave?
I am a PhD student in a European country, finishing up writing my dissertation and expecting to graduate in the early fall. I am also a few months pregnant – if all goes well, I’ll be having my ...
- 561
12
votes
4
answers
8k
views
Would it be inappropriate to write employment filters on my social media channels?
I receive a lot of job offers during the week on my business social media channels, although I've stated that I am not looking, but remain open to offers. I don't have anything against these offers, ...
- 258
0
votes
1
answer
559
views
Sharing Costs for Train Travel Flatrate (BahnCard100)
My future employer is a 100€ (200€ return ticket) train tricket far away from where i am living.
They expect me to visit four times a year, so with return ticket that is at least 800€.
They already ...
- 437