Perhaps one of the biggest German urban myths is that once you’ve been granted an unlimited employment contract, it’s almost impossible to be fired or laid off. This simply isn’t true. There is no set process for being fired, but if employers have a real reason (known in German as wichtigem Grund) for wanting to get rid of you – embezzlement, incompetence or insubordination for example – they can. The law also permits lay-offs in order to keep companies on the brink afloat.

On the other hand, large German corporations will have a works council made up of employees that must approve all new recruitment, layoffs and firings. They will be your first recourse in any dispute with your employer. Should you find yourself without a job, Germany has a special labour court to settle disputes. However, don’t expect any massive cash settlements. If you win a case, the court will award you back-pay and force your former employer to give you your job back.

The best place to get assistance navigating Germany’s dense labour laws would be any professional association related to your job, if you have one. If not, the German labour office, the Bundesagentur für Arbeit (01801 555 111) could help, but it’s staffed by bureaucrats who will shuffle you around for days if not weeks. In reality, without the help of a professional organisation or union, the best place to go for advice is a laywer. German labour regulations have been tested by years of actual cases, and labour lawyers are up to date on all the latest dos and don’ts. The fee may be painful at first, but is really an investment in your future.