Spotlight Employment Law – Termination of employment relationship

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With our new English-language Spotlight employment law series, we offer international HR professionals, in-house counsel and business leaders supporting German entities or employees based in Germany a concise introduction to key aspects of German employment law. In free online sessions of approximately 60 minutes, our experts address current employment law topics in a practical, business-focused format. Each session also provides space for exchange, discussion and questions in an interactive setting.

On 30th June 2026, we will continue our English Spotlight series with a session on Termination of the employment relationship.

Terminating employees in Germany can quickly become a legal minefield. What may seem like a straightforward decision under international “at-will” concepts often turns into lengthy disputes, unexpected back-pay claims and reputational damage if German law is overlooked.

In this Spotlight employment law session, German employment law specialists Dr Patrizia Chwalisz and Farina Franz will guide you through the realities of terminating employment relationships in Germany. Using real-life cases from practice, they will explain what really matters - and where employers most often go wrong.

The session will cover in particular

• Which termination options are available under German law — and when each one works in practice (ordinary termination, termination for cause, termination agreements)
• The formal requirements and notice periods that can make or break a termination
• When dismissal protection applies and why certain situations carry particularly high legal risk
• The critical role of works councils and how to involve them correctly in termination processes

This Spotlight is designed for international HR professionals and decision-makers seeking a clear, practice-oriented overview of German dismissal protection law and a better understanding of typical risk areas in termination scenarios.

Additional information

A certificate in accordance with § 15 FAO will not be issued. This free information event is being held online via Teams by Esche Schümann Commichau. You can find our privacy policy for online conferences here.