Termination from your employer? You have only 3 weeks

You received a termination from your employer? Then one thing counts above all now: the deadline. Anyone who wants to defend against a dismissal must file a claim within three weeks, otherwise the dismissal is deemed effective, even if it was flawed.

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Your chances of getting your money back

From receipt of the termination, you have only 3 weeks to file an unfair dismissal claim at the labor court (§ 4 KSchG). This deadline is strict; after it the dismissal as a rule becomes effective.

A claim often leads to a severance payment or to continued employment. In the unfair dismissal case (first instance), each side bears its own legal costs; the cost risk is manageable.

What you should do now

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1. Record the date of receipt
The 3-week deadline runs from the day the termination reached you. Note the date immediately.
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2. Have the termination checked
Form (written form!), deadline, social selection, works council hearing: errors can hide in many places. Have the termination checked.
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3. File the claim on time
File an unfair dismissal claim at the labor court within 3 weeks. The court's application office helps if it has to be quick.
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4. Register as unemployed
As a precaution, register as seeking work early to avoid blocking periods for unemployment benefit.

Frequently asked questions

Does dismissal protection apply to me?

The Dismissal Protection Act generally applies if the business has more than 10 employees and your employment has lasted longer than 6 months. But even outside the KSchG, a dismissal can be ineffective formally or due to special dismissal protection (for example pregnancy, severe disability); the 3-week deadline applies almost always.

Do I get a severance payment?

There is usually no automatic entitlement, but in practice many unfair dismissal cases end with a severance payment in a settlement. What matters is meeting the claim deadline in order to be able to negotiate at all.

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General information for self-help, not legal advice (RDG). In case of a high loss or uncertainty: contact a consumer advice center or a lawyer.