Document background
The Testimonial Certificate For Employee (Arbeitszeugnis) is a fundamental document in German employment law, required whenever an employment relationship ends. Under German labor law (§ 109 GewO and § 630 BGB), employees have a legal right to receive this certificate, which must be provided by their employer upon termination of employment. The document serves multiple purposes: it acts as an official record of employment, provides a detailed assessment of the employee's performance and behavior, and serves as a crucial reference for future employment opportunities. The certificate must follow specific legal requirements regarding content and language, using standardized phrases that have developed through court decisions and common practice. It should be written in a positive tone while maintaining truthfulness, and any negative information must be conveyed through careful coding that is commonly understood in German business culture.
