As of: March 9, 2024, 12:00 p.m
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Press
Split
Many working people have a part-time job.
Before taking up additional employment, you should clarify important questions.
In the past 20 years, the number of multi-jobbers has more than doubled.
According to the
Federal Employment Agency
, there are over 3.5 million people in Germany who do more than just work.
However, coordinating multiple jobs can present some pitfalls.
Multiple employment: This is what you need to consider
Multi-jobbers are not a uniform group.
Many people are unable to make ends meet financially with a normal full-time job.
Inflation in recent years is partly responsible for this.
The minimum wage is often not enough to cover the high cost of living.
But there are also employees who decide to work multiple jobs for other reasons.
This can include the urge to try new tasks and escape the monotonous routine of the main job.
Or there is a desire to build up several professional bases.
However, if you want to do or already do more than one job, you have to take a number of things into account.
1. Can my employer prohibit further jobs?
Before taking up additional employment, you must obtain consent from your employer.
In principle, the company is allowed to object if there is a comprehensible reason behind it.
Example: You want to work as a DJ at night and come to the office the next day completely tired.
In such cases, the company may prohibit second employment.
Important: Get your consent in writing.
This usually states who you are not allowed to work for - for example competing companies.
Once permission has been granted, the company is generally not allowed to simply revoke the consent.
According to the job portal
Workwise
, this would only be possible if the conditions change.
2. Is multiple employment possible in terms of time?
Anyone who works multiple jobs needs excellent time management.
You should think carefully in advance about whether and how you can bring everything together.
Also take into account the travel time between work locations and private obligations.
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3. Does multi-jobbing make financial sense?
Also, carefully calculate whether the second job is financially worthwhile.
Many people forget to take into account the additional costs (such as travel costs).
Stiftung Warentest
also
points out that what appears to be an attractive gross additional income at first glance can potentially become a disappointment when it comes to the monthly payroll and, at the latest, when filing the tax return.
Don't miss anything: You can find everything about careers in the regular career newsletter from our partner Merkur.de.
4. How am I insured?
In Germany, employees have to pay social security contributions, which are usually automatically deducted from their gross wages.
Mini-jobs with an income of a maximum of 538 euros per month, on the other hand, are insurance-free.
If you also have a mini-job in addition to a full-time or part-time position, you only have to pay insurance contributions for the main job.
According to the
German Pension Insurance,
only the second low-paid job is counted together with the main job.
The first part-time job remains an insurance-free mini-job.
The insurance requirement varies depending on the employment combination.
It is best for those affected to find out more about their individual case.