Document background
The Certificate of Employment and Salary (Arbeitszeugnis) is a fundamental document in German employment relationships, mandated by §109 of the German Trade Regulation Act (Gewerbeordnung) and §630 of the German Civil Code (BGB). This document must be issued when requested by an employee or upon termination of employment, regardless of the reason for termination. It serves multiple purposes: providing official documentation of employment history, offering a detailed performance evaluation, and certifying salary information. The certificate must follow specific legal requirements regarding content and language, using standardized phrases that German employers understand. It's particularly important in the German job market, where potential employers typically expect to see these certificates as part of job applications. The document must maintain a balance between truthfulness and benevolence, avoiding any coded negative messages while accurately representing the employee's performance and conduct.
