According to the 2024 German Volunteer Survey (Deutscher Freiwilligensurvey 2024), around 27 million people in Germany volunteer—from political campaigns and the volunteer fire service to emergency response, the Federal Technical Relief Agency (Technisches Hilfswerk (THW)), disaster relief, honorary judgeships, and associations—but what happens when volunteering conflicts with the employment relationship?
Quick Hits
Volunteering may trigger certain duties of consideration (Rücksichtnahmepflichten) for employers.
The specific activity is decisive, however, so each case must be assessed individually.
As a general rule, volunteering remains a private matter.
What Is Volunteering?
Volunteering (Ehrenamt) generally means a voluntary activity that is not aimed at generating profit and benefits the public good. An expense allowance may be paid in the form of money, provided there is no genuine profit-making intent and no employment relationship exists.
The General Rule: Volunteering Is a… Read the complete article here...
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