Blog

Counting notice under the BGB

When clients arrive for employment consultations in Germany, the first sticky moment is rarely emotion — it is arithmetic. Statutory notice under the Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch uses familiar anchors, yet people still mis-count when their contract adds length or changes the cut-off.

Start from receipt, not from intent

Notice runs from when the employer can be said to have received it. A letter sitting in your bag on Friday evening does not start the clock. Plan delivery with the same care you give the wording.

Contract first, statute as floor

Your Vertrag may extend the period or specify Schriftform. Statutory rules still matter as a floor and as a reference when language is ambiguous. Tarifverträge can introduce yet another layer — bring the clause, not a paraphrase.

Why the fifteenth still trips people

Many resignations aim for a mid-month or month-end exit. Missing the receipt window by a day can slide the end date further than expected. In our Notice Calendar sessions we sketch both the hoped-for date and the next lawful alternative before anyone prints a letter.

For a guided path through this math, see the Resignation Roadmap or the public notice period planner.