Employment law
Federal Employment Court (BAG) pushes ahead with digitalisation: payslips may only be provided online
- In a recent ruling dated 28 January 2025, the Federal Employment Court clarified that employers can also fulfil their obligation to issue payslips digitally
- The court considered the posting of the statement as an electronic document for retrieval in a password-protected digital employee mailbox to be sufficient
- Facts, reasons for the decision and practical tips
Read more [German only]
“Breathe a sigh of relief” for self-employed freelance teachers and educational institutions: Bundestag clears the way for transitional regulation
- The so-called “Herrenberg” decision of the Federal Social Court (BSG) in June 2022 had caused shock waves when the BSG had ruled that fee-based teachers were generally employed, which led to numerous additional claims for social security contributions
- The legislator has now reacted to this and passed a law on 30 January 2025 that gives the parties concerned time to make the necessary changes to the organisational and financing models
- A quick look at the requirements for the exonerating regulation
Read more [German only]
Federal Employment Court (BAG) strengthens employer rights: no obligation to disclose employee e-mail addresses to trade unions!
- The BAG has strengthened the rights of employers in the digital space in two recent judgements
- Accordingly, there is no obligation for companies to provide trade unions with the work email addresses of their employees or to grant them access to internal digital communication platforms
- Initial situation, reasons for the decision and practical tips
Read more [German only]
Permissibility of reducing variable remuneration in the event of long-term illness
- In a decision dated 21 May 2024, the Higher Employment Court of Düsseldorf confirmed that a pro rata reduction may be permissible
- In accordance with the principle of “no work, no pay”, there was no entitlement to remuneration after the end of the six-week period of continued remuneration in the event of continued incapacity to work due to illness and therefore no entitlement to payment of variable remuneration for this period
- Facts of the case, reasons for the decision and practical advice
Read more [German only]
Work/Life: international employment news update
Read more
Read more
Webinars
HR Coffee Break #1 2025: What’s new in employment law in 2025
- What should you know for the new year?
- In the first HR Coffee Break 2025, our team will provide an overview of changes to employment law and bring you up to date with the latest developments
To recording [German only]
Unlocking Remote Work in Spain: Seizing Opportunities and Overcoming Challenges in the EU
- Do you dream of working on Spain’s sun-drenched coasts or in vibrant cities?
- Spain has become an increasingly popular work-from-home destination in the EU, offering international professionals a unique blend of lifestyle, infrastructure and developing business opportunities
- But what does it really take to work from home in Spain and what challenges should employers and employees be aware of
To recording
HR Coffee Break #2: New government, new laws? What HR departments can expect after the general election
- What happens after the elections? From exploratory talks and coalition negotiations to the swearing-in of the cabinet - the path to possible employment law reforms is long and complex
- In this issue, just a few days after the general election, we give you an initial overview of the legal changes that could be in store for employers and employees depending on the coalition government
To recording [German only]
The crisis as an opportunity - principles and objectives of employment law transformations
5 March 2025
- Crisis situations require decisive entrepreneurial action - in our webinar we will give you a comprehensive insight into the basics of employment law transformation processes
- Learn how to proceed strategically, how to organise such processes, which legal framework conditions you need to consider and how to successfully take the decisive steps in planning and implementation
To registration [German only]
Goodbye gender pay gap - hello pay transparency
6 March 2025
- Time will be up in 2026: this is when the European Pay Transparency Directive must be implemented by companies
- The Directive provides for extensive information rights and reporting obligations in order to close the pay gap in companies and promote fair and transparent remuneration
- Find out everything you need to know now to be prepared for the changeover in the webinar with Cobalt
To registration [German only]
10 Pitfalls in German employment law #8 – Employer of Record
11 March 2025
- Many international recruitment companies offer Employer of Record (EoR) services - the EoR hires a person for the client and takes care of the induction and management of the employment relationship
- The person hired actually works under the supervision of the client and is (virtually) integrated into the client’s business
- In our webinar, our specialists will guide you through this topic and show you how to avoid the legal pitfalls when working with an EoR in Germany
To registration
Alternatives to staff cuts 2 - cooperation with the works council and trade unions
19 March 2025
- Constructive cooperation with the works council is a decisive factor in preventing redundancies and at the same time ensuring the profitability of your company
- We explain how alternative cost-cutting measures can be developed together with the works council, the crucial role that location protection measures play in safeguarding jobs and how a collective restructuring agreement can be used as a strategic instrument.
To registration [German only]
When staff cuts are unavoidable - legally compliant preparation, planning and legal representation
7 May 2025
- If preventive measures to reduce costs do not achieve the desired effect, staff cuts are often unavoidable
- In this webinar, we offer you a detailed step-by-step guide on how to implement redundancies in a legally compliant manner - from the social selection to the reconciliation of interests to the social plan
- Implement a fair and transparent redundancy process to provide your employees with the best possible support
To registration [German only]
Transfer companies and outplacement - socially responsible solutions in practice
14 May 2025
- Transfer companies and outplacement programmes offer effective solutions to cushion the social consequences of staff cuts
- In this webinar, you will learn how to set up a legally compliant transfer company, the advantages of tripartite contracts between employer, employee and transfer company and how outplacement measures help affected employees to quickly re-enter the labour market
- Discover practical tools that both protect the company’s interests and offer your employees a fair perspective
To registration [German only]