
Key German Labor and Employment Law Developments of 2019 and What’s to Come in 2020
As the new year begins, it is a good time to look at key developments in German labor and employment law in 2019 and look ahead in 2020. With respect to 2019, corporate legal and human resources departments should be aware of new court rulings addressing fixed-term employment contracts, working time recording, the notorious two-week deadline for instant dismissals, and enhanced flexibility in drafting bonus clauses for board members.
In the coming year, there are several issues to be aware of, including a new minimum wage and anticipated changes concerning immigration law and whistleblower protections. Moreover, the German "Grand Coalition" still has a few reforms on the labor and employment law agenda.
Jones Day publications should not be construed as legal advice on any specific facts or circumstances. The contents are intended for general information purposes only and may not be quoted or referred to in any other publication or proceeding without the prior written consent of the Firm, to be given or withheld at our discretion. To request reprint permission for any of our publications, please use our “Contact Us” form, which can be found on our website at www.jonesday.com. The mailing of this publication is not intended to create, and receipt of it does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. The views set forth herein are the personal views of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Firm.