What does Arbeitsvertrag mean?
The Arbeitsvertrag (employment contract) sets out your work: what you do, how much you work and how much you earn.
der Arbeitsvertrag · die Arbeitsverträge (plural)
It also covers holidays, the probation period and notice periods. Your employer must give you the main conditions in writing.
Offices often ask for the employment contract as proof, for example when you start a new job.
Not every clause in the contract is allowed. If in doubt, get advice, for example from a trade union (Gewerkschaft).
Example sentence
Bitte senden Sie uns eine Kopie Ihres Arbeitsvertrags.
Please send us a copy of your Arbeitsvertrag.
What you can do
Do not sign anything you do not understand. Take the contract with you and have it checked.
Related words
- Lohnabrechnung The Lohnabrechnung (payslip) shows how much you earned in the month and what was deducted from it.
- Kündigung With a Kündigung (notice), one side ends a contract, for example a rental contract, a work contract or a subscription.
- Abmahnung With an Abmahnung (formal warning), your employer or landlord warns you. They say what you did wrong and threaten notice.
- Aufhebungsvertrag With an Aufhebungsvertrag (termination agreement), you and your employer end the employment together, without notice.
- Arbeitszeugnis An Arbeitszeugnis (employment reference) is a letter from your employer about your work. You often need it for new applications.