The employer has to provide a valid reason for termination of the employment. Moreover, after 6 months of employment, the employee is protected by the German Termination Protection Act. According to this act, an employee can be terminated based on the following categories;

• Personal situation (e.g., Long term Sickness) 
• The behavior of the individual (e.g., fraud, theft) 
• Business of the employer (if the employer decides to decrease the number of employees)

The notice period in Germany depends on the years of service provided by the employee;

• For employment lasting less than 2 years, the notice period is 4 weeks.
• For 2 to 4 years of employment, the notice period is 1 month.
• For 5 to 7 years of employment, the notice period is 2 months.
• For 8 to 9 years of employment, the notice period is 3 months.
• For 10 to 11 years of employment, the notice period is 4 months.
• For 12 to 14 years of employment, the notice period is 5 months.
• For 15 to 19 years of employment, the notice period is 6 months.

Severance pay

There are no statutory laws for severance pay. However, the employer has to give severance pay if the employee was terminated without notice.