Keep a cool head—and don’t sign anything just yet
You should never sign a termination agreement or your own resignation letter right away, even if your boss is pressuring you to do so. In this situation, it’s often hard to fully grasp the consequences. So: Politely ask for a delay and head to the works council, IG Metall, or an unemployment support group.
Seek advice
As soon as you receive your notice of termination, contact the works council, your union, or an unemployment support group to determine whether there’s anything you can do about the termination. Don’t put this off, because there are deadlines you must meet: You have only three weeks to file a lawsuit with the labor court.
Notify the Employment Office
You must register with the employment office as soon as you become aware of the termination of your employment—within seven days. This applies regardless of whether the termination takes effect at the end of the month or is even unlawful. You are only entitled to unemployment benefits once your registration as unemployed has been received—provided you were employed in a position subject to social insurance contributions for at least twelve months.
Apply for Additional Financial Assistance
If the money from the Employment Office isn’t enough, you can apply for additional assistance from the Social Services Office. The Social Services Office will also step in if the Employment Office is taking its time with the calculation, but your landlord is already at your door demanding the rent.
Complying with Requests from Government Agencies
You should take letters from the employment office or social services seriously. In most cases, you must comply with the agency’s requests within a certain time frame; otherwise, you’ll lose money (duty to cooperate). However, government agencies are often more nosy than necessary. What are they allowed to ask—and what aren’t they? Check with an advice center.
Preparing for Appointments
The same rule applies to every visit to a government office, a lawyer, or a union: Be well prepared and have all your documents with you. Nothing is more frustrating than waiting for hours in the hallway only to have to go home empty-handed because you forgot something. If in doubt, call ahead and ask what you need to bring.
Applying for Unemployment Benefits
Before submitting an application, you should check with an unemployment support group to find out the best way to proceed—especially if you’ve already received a rejection notice. The better prepared you are, the sooner you’ll get what you’re entitled to! You can find useful tips for dealing with impending unemployment and flyers on the topic of unemployment at the Coordination Office for Union Unemployment Groups.
