Document background
The Certificate of Service From Employer (Arbeitszeugnis) is a crucial document in German employment law, mandated by §109 of the German Industrial Code (Gewerbeordnung) and §630 of the German Civil Code (BGB). Every employee has a legal right to receive this document upon termination of employment, regardless of the reason for termination or the duration of employment. The certificate must be issued on company letterhead, include specific mandatory elements such as personal details, employment duration, job responsibilities, and performance evaluation, and must be written in a positive, professional tone while remaining truthful. The document serves as an important reference for future employment and must avoid any coded negative messages that could disadvantage the employee in their career progression.
