Reference Letter For Employee Leaving for Germany

Reference Letter For Employee Leaving Template for Germany

A German reference letter (Arbeitszeugnis) is a legally mandated document that employers must provide to employees upon their departure from the company. Under German law, specifically BGB § 630 and GewO § 109, this document must provide a comprehensive and truthful assessment of the employee's performance and conduct while maintaining a benevolent tone. The letter follows strict formatting conventions and uses standardized language that has been established through years of legal precedent in German labor courts. It serves as an official employment record and plays a crucial role in the employee's future job applications within the German job market.

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What is a Reference Letter For Employee Leaving?

The Reference Letter For Employee Leaving (Arbeitszeugnis) is a fundamental document in German employment law, with every employee having a legal right to receive one upon departure from their employment. This document serves multiple purposes: it provides future employers with standardized information about the employee's performance and behavior, protects the employee's interests in the job market, and fulfills the employer's legal obligations under German labor law. The reference letter must be written according to specific principles, including truthfulness (Wahrheitspflicht) and benevolence (Wohlwollenspflicht), using standardized phrases that have been established through court decisions. The document is particularly important in the German job market, where employers typically expect to receive reference letters from all previous employers.

What sections should be included in a Reference Letter For Employee Leaving?

1. Letter Header: Company letterhead with full contact details and date

2. Employee Personal Information: Full name, date of birth (if provided by employee), and job title

3. Employment Duration: Precise start and end dates of employment

4. Job Description: Detailed description of main tasks, responsibilities, and position within the company hierarchy

5. Performance Assessment: Evaluation of work quality, knowledge, capabilities, and achievement of objectives

6. Behavioral Assessment: Description of conduct towards superiors, colleagues, and clients/customers

7. Reason for Departure: Brief statement of departure reason (typically noting it was at employee's request)

8. Closing Formula: Standard closing with good wishes for the future

9. Signature Block: Date, place, company representative's signature and position

What sections are optional to include in a Reference Letter For Employee Leaving?

1. Special Achievements: Used when the employee had notable accomplishments or led significant projects

2. Training and Development: Include when employee completed significant training programs or acquired new qualifications during employment

3. Management Responsibilities: Added for employees who held leadership positions, describing team size and scope

4. International Experience: Relevant for employees who worked in international contexts or with global teams

5. Special Skills: Used to highlight specific technical or soft skills that were particularly valuable

What schedules should be included in a Reference Letter For Employee Leaving?

1. Project List: Detailed list of major projects the employee was involved in (particularly relevant for project managers or technical roles)

2. Training Certificates: Copies of relevant certificates or qualifications obtained during employment

3. Performance Metrics: Specific performance indicators or achievements in numerical form, if applicable and requested by employee

Authors

Alex Denne

Head of Growth (Open Source Law) @ Genie AI | 3 x UCL-Certified in Contract Law & Drafting | 4+ Years Managing 1M+ Legal Documents | Serial Founder & Legal AI Author

Jurisdiction

Germany

Publisher

Genie AI

Document Type

Reference Letter

Cost

Free to use
Relevant Industries

Technology

Manufacturing

Financial Services

Healthcare

Retail

Education

Professional Services

Construction

Hospitality

Automotive

Energy

Telecommunications

Public Sector

Non-Profit

Media and Entertainment

Transportation and Logistics

Relevant Teams

Human Resources

Legal

Compliance

Senior Management

Administration

Employee Relations

Personnel Management

Relevant Roles

HR Manager

Legal Counsel

HR Director

Office Manager

Department Head

Managing Director

HR Business Partner

Compliance Officer

Personnel Administrator

Employee Relations Manager

HR Specialist

General Counsel

Chief Human Resources Officer

HR Coordinator

Industries
Teams

Employer, Employee, Start Date, Job Title, Department, Location, Probationary Period, Notice Period, Salary, Overtime, Vacation Pay, Statutory Holidays, Benefits, Bonus, Expenses, Working Hours, Rest Breaks,  Leaves of Absence, Confidentiality, Intellectual Property, Non-Solicitation, Non-Competition, Code of Conduct, Termination,  Severance Pay, Governing Law, Entire Agreemen

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