Overview

• German law prohibits employers from terminating employees during parental leave, except in cases of insolvency, business closure, or serious misconduct.
• Any dismissal during parental leave requires prior approval from the relevant occupational safety authority to be valid.
• Employees have three weeks from receiving a termination notice to file a protection lawsuit at the labor court, which begins with a conciliation hearing.
• If no settlement is reached during the conciliation, the case proceeds to a chamber hearing with two lay judges for a final decision.
• Termination ends parental leave and impacts health insurance coverage, but does not affect parental allowance or eligibility for unemployment benefits.