Success at work does not fall from the sky. However, those looking for advancement must internalize a few principles in order to be able to take their professional destiny into their own hands. Here are the most important tips from motivational trainers, career coaches and HR professionals.
Germans would rather travel than pursue a career
LinkedIn study examines what success means to employees. Happiness and health are more important than career advancement.
Contrary to the classic definition that success is synonymous with an influential position in a company and a lot of money, professional success plays a rather subordinate role for German employees. This was the result of a representative study commissioned by LinkedIn, which examined how Germans define success for themselves today.
According to this, success has an individual meaning for 66 percent of those surveyed. Just under a quarter of those surveyed see professional milestones as a success. Financial aspects such as a salary increase (16 percent) or a six-figure salary (12 percent) are rated even less important. Being happy (72 percent) or healthy (71 percent) is seen as the greatest achievement. For most people, the job serves as a way to have more freedom later. 17 percent would like to retire by 2027 and be able to actively shape it.
Head of Wichtig (important)
Cordelia Röders-Arnold is Head of Menstruation. It’s also on her business card – if she writes it down. Because at Einhorn, a Berlin start-up that manufactures vegan, sustainable condoms and period products, everyone can call themselves whatever they want. As long as it conveys what he is doing.
Röders-Arnold takes care of everything to do with the menstrual cycle at Einhorn – she develops products, takes care of distribution, sales, social media. “The job title was originally just a gag,” she says. “But I am now convinced that it is precisely on this basis of amused interest that one arouses interest in sustainable alternatives and breaks with social taboos.”
Don’t overpay your employees!
What drives employees? There are many answers to the question: Responsibility is one thing, appreciation is another. And money? Not so important. More salary can even be dangerous.
According to the motivational pope Sprenger, money can trigger a flash in the pan motivation. “The half-life is usually no more than 48 hours,” says the management consultant. Happiness researcher Ruckriegel is a little more optimistic: “Once the basic needs are met, it takes about two to three months for the employee’s expectations to adjust and for them to be just as satisfied as they were before the salary increase.”
In the long term, however, there is a risk of dramatic consequences from excessive financial generosity. According to Sprenger, it increases the stimulus and expectation level and can thus trigger a real addiction to rewards. Ruckriegel also warns: “You always have to push more, but at some point the end of the road will be reached.” And the higher the starting salary level, the lower the impact on productivity and the higher the greed. Because then the main thing is to earn as much as possible more than the others.
Generalist vs. Specialist: Which Is Better?
YouTube comments:
“As a former gifted kid, this explains so much about how I was taught.”
“My trajectory as a designer was to be very general for along time. This helped shape my overall skillset but when it came to actually delivering projects and building a business, I needed some aspect of specialisation. Perhaps specialising is the thing that sits at the front of a broad skillset?”
“Specialist are often strange people and limited thinkers. I became a chess champion at 7 for the first time, I turned away from it because of it’s limitations on thought. After a few years of defending my title I just couldn’t see the point anymore.”
“I think the ideal is to be a generalist, where you are go in depth for 2-3 domains… for example, I am an engineer and have background in operations management, but also try to learn a bit of everything (finance, IT, sales, etc)”
Germany’s students are drawn to the civil service
Security instead of risk: According to a survey by the management consultancy Ernst & Young, the public sector is the most attractive sector for German students. The main reason for this is the hope of finding a secure job.
Employment law: Basic information
In Germany, all laws and regulations concerning work are summarised in labour law. The protection of workers plays a key role in this. For example, labour law gives you comprehensive rights in relation to your employment contract, wages and holidays.
Termination of the employment relationship
You or your employer may terminate your seasonal employment relationship early. The notice periods to be observed are stated in your employment contract. Your employment may only be terminated without notice in specific cases.
A notice of termination is only valid if it can be proven to have been handed over. This is the case when a notice of termination exists as a written document and has been signed by both parties. A notice of termination is also valid if a witness was present when notice was given or handed over as a written document. Notice of termination by email is not deemed to be written notice of termination and is therefore invalid.
Working hours
The average working hours in Germany is 8 hours per day. This can be extended to up to 10 hours per day for a short period. A rest period of 11 hours is normally prescribed between 2 shifts.
Breaks
If you work between 6 to 9 hours a day, you are entitled to a 30-minute break after no later than 6 hours. If you work more than 9 hours a day, the break is extended to 45 minutes. Labour law prohibits taking the break at the end of the day’s work in order to leave earlier.
Breaks are not considered working time and are therefore not paid.
Holidays
Even as a seasonal worker, you are entitled to paid leave. This is at least 2 days for each month in which you work full time. The holiday pay may also be paid to you at the end of your period of employment if you have agreed this with your employer in advance.
If you work on Sundays or public holidays, your employer must offer you a corresponding number of days off in lieu within 8 weeks.
Wages
A minimum wage is mandatory for all employees in Germany. This means no employer may pay less than this hourly wage. Since 1 January 2022, the minimum wage has been EUR 9.82 per hour gross. This means before taxes and other charges are deducted from this amount.
Even if you have agreed a piecework rate with your employer, you may not earn less than the statutory minimum wage.
Your employer must also give you a pay slip. This lists the tax amounts that will be deducted from your gross wage. If your employer provides accommodation, the cost for this may also be deducted from your wages. The corresponding amount must also be shown on the pay slip.
Employees want more training
More than ever since the corona crisis, employees have feared that their qualifications are no longer sufficient, a study shows.
Do Germans really have work-life balance?
It’s common to hear that Germans are great at switching off once their working hours are done, but according to a new survey, this may not be entirely true.
The survey commissioned by Novotel surveyed around 5,000 adults across Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Poland to investigate their habits and working schedules. Surprisingly enough, it found that the Germans have the worst work-life balance of all four countries, with 58 percent work and only 42 percent leisure time.
10 Important Facts About the 2022 Works-Council Elections
A works council in Germany is elected by employees and the conduct and procedure of the election is a matter for them too. Nevertheless, the employer usually has an interest in the proper conduct of the election.
An incorrect election procedure could result in higher costs for it, as well as unclear and unstable conditions in day-to-day dealings with the council and any collective agreements (“works agreements”) negotiated with representatives elected in an unlawful ballot.
Due to new case law and recent changes to the Works Constitution Act (BetrVG), the election procedure has been simplified. Employers are well advised to familiarize themselves with the recent amendments regarding the election process in good time to avoid subsequent disputes about the validity of the ballot.