German references, employment certificates, holiday pay
What the employer owes when an employment relationship ends. The first module explains the reference under s. 109 GewO: simple or, on request, qualified, electronic only with consent, clear and free of hidden statements, plus the satisfaction scale and the burden of proof according to the Federal Labour Court. The second walks through the electronic employment certificate for the employment agency with its fine of up to €2,000, the holiday pay-out based on the last thirteen weeks, the holiday certificate and the final payslip.
Foundational2 modules41 minModule 1 free to read
2026 rules — verified on September 23, 2026
Figures are tied to dated, sourced tax constants. A module whose rules have changed is flagged for review, and is unpublished automatically beyond 90 days.
This content is part of the path: Ending an employment relationship· Step 3 of 8· Next step: German notice period calculator — the length-of-service ladder
By the end of this course, you can…
These outcomes are the modules' own: the promise cannot say anything the course does not teach.
- name the entitlement to a reference under s. 109 GewO and the event that triggers it
- distinguish the simple and the qualified reference by content and by who chooses
- recognise the condition for issuing the reference electronically
- apply the ban on hidden statements to concrete wording
- place the burden of proof for the final grade according to the Federal Labour Court
- determine the content and trigger of the employment certificate under s. 312 SGB III
- describe the electronic transmission route and the confirmation sent to the employee
- place the range of fines and the liability for damages for faulty certificates
- apply the holiday pay-out and the holiday certificate at the end of employment
- recalculate a pay-out using the yardstick of s. 11 BUrlG
The programme, module by module
Each module has its own page. Durations are derived from the actual text, never announced by hand.
- Module 121 minFree — no accountThe employment reference: entitlement, form, truth and coded languageWhat you will be able to do
- name the entitlement to a reference under s. 109 GewO and the event that triggers it
- distinguish the simple and the qualified reference by content and by who chooses
- recognise the condition for issuing the reference electronically
- apply the ban on hidden statements to concrete wording
- place the burden of proof for the final grade according to the Federal Labour Court
- Module 220 minIncluded in the full courseEmployment certificate, holiday pay-out and the final documentsWhat you will be able to do
- determine the content and trigger of the employment certificate under s. 312 SGB III
- describe the electronic transmission route and the confirmation sent to the employee
- place the range of fines and the liability for damages for faulty certificates
- apply the holiday pay-out and the holiday certificate at the end of employment
- recalculate a pay-out using the yardstick of s. 11 BUrlG
What you take away
A handout you keep, not just a page you read. The sections are derived from the course itself: what is announced here is exactly what gets generated.
Participant handout (PDF)
PDF
- Learning objectives (2)
- Key figures (4)
- Mistakes to avoid (2)
- Official sources (2)
Exercise workbook (Word)
Word
- Learning objectives (2)
- Key figures (4)
- Mistakes to avoid (2)
- Official sources (2)
Answers live in a separate appendix: the participant handout and the workbook stay distributable before the exercise.
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Where this course leads
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Educational content, current with the sources cited. It does not replace advice tailored to your situation. These courses are neither certifying nor CPF-eligible: they prepare for no certification registered with the French RNCP or specific register.