Do you want to quit your employer? In the notice of termination, you have to follow a few rules - otherwise the termination could be ineffective in the worst case.
The boss is nasty, the colleagues just blasphemy - and the tasks more than boring? There are many reasons for termination. But if you want to change employers, you cannot avoid a letter of termination. But how do I write a termination so that it is valid?
Termination of employment contract: It must contain these elements
To avoid formal errors, certain guidelines must be followed when terminating the employment contract. Otherwise you risk that your dismissal is invalid and you cannot leave your old employer in time.
Also interesting: what you have to look out for when canceling insurance
1. Labor law always looks for a termination, the written form before (§623 BGB). An email or fax is not enough .
2. A termination must always be signed personally (not scanned).
To avoid misunderstandings , these things should also be given notice to the employer:
- Full address of the employee and employer
- if necessary personnel number
- Current date, in order to prove compliance with the notice period in case of doubt
- The subject should contain the word "termination" to be legally binding
- Salutation: "Dear Sir or Madam" or addressed personally to the boss / personnel manager
- Notice period ("I hereby give notice on the [date].")
- handwritten signature (not scanned)
Labor lawyers recommend communicating as clearly as possible and omitting any decorations. Otherwise, this could unnecessarily "feed" a labor law process.
Read also : You should never start your step into self-employment.
Pattern: A termination could look like this:
Termination of my employment contract
Dear Sir / Madam,
I hereby terminate my employment contract from…. neat and on time at the next possible time.
Please confirm receipt of the cancellation in writing. In addition, I ask you to issue me a qualified job reference.
I would like to thank you for the good cooperation in the past years and wish you all the best for the future.
Sincerely yours
Signature of the employee
Also read : In times of climate change: Would you give up your job for the environment?
How to find out the right notice period
In order for you to get out of the old employment contract in time for your new job, you must of course know how long your notice period is . You can find out how to find out and which legal regulations apply here.
Find out more : Employment contract lost - this trick will solve the problem.
Deliver termination: in person or by post?
Your notice of termination is generally considered to have been delivered as soon as it has been received by the company. If you hand in the cancellation in person, it is best to have this acknowledged. A registered mail is recommended for delivery by post.
You can find out more about termination here: Termination of employment contract - the most important rules and deadlines.
Do you want to stay up to date with the latest career news? Then follow our industry page on the Xing career portal.
By Andrea Stettner
Top 20 companies with the best remuneration in Germany
To the photo gallery
