Question 8
What can I do in Germany if my employer has unfairly dismissed me?
German original: Was kann ich in Deutschland machen, wenn mir meine Arbeitgeberin / mein Arbeitgeber zu Unrecht gekündigt hat?. In the test, all questions are asked in German.
Answer options
- continue working and be friendly towards the boss
- initiate debt collection proceedings against the employer
- file a wrongful dismissal lawsuit — Correct answer
- report the employer to the police
Explanation
Anyone wrongfully dismissed in Germany can file a wrongful dismissal claim (Kündigungsschutzklage) at the labor court within three weeks of the dismissal.
Key terms in this question
- Germany — Germany is a country in central Europe with a parliamentary democracy. It is a member of the European Union and its capital is Berlin.
- law / right — A rule established by the state that applies to everyone in a country. It can also mean a personal entitlement or freedom that a person is guaranteed.
- can / to be able to — An auxiliary verb that expresses that someone has the ability or possibility to do something.
- Federal state — A federal state is one of the 16 regions that together form Germany. Each state has its own government, parliament, and areas of responsibility.
- work / labor — Work is an activity that people do to earn money or accomplish something. It can be physical or mental in nature.
- to make / to do — To produce, perform, or carry out an action or task. It is a very common verb used in a wide variety of situations.
- Employer — A person or company that hires other people and pays them a wage or salary in exchange for their work.
- employer (female / organization) — An employer is a woman or an organization that hires people and pays them to work for her or it.