Here’s the deal
- Notice has to be in writing, with a signature on paper. Notice by email or WhatsApp is invalid (§ 623 BGB).
- The statutory period is four weeks to the 15th or the end of a month (§ 622 BGB), for a mini-job too. During probation it is two weeks.
- In a private household the Dismissal Protection Act does not apply. For ordinary notice you do not need a specific reason.
- Special protection remains: you can only give notice to pregnant women and people with a severe disability in limited circumstances.
- After the notice: pay out remaining holiday, issue a reference letter, and deregister the job.
Parting ways with a domestic helper is legally simpler than in a business setting, as broad dismissal protection does not apply to private households. However, two things must be correct, or the notice will be invalid: the form and the notice period. This guide explains what that means in practical terms and what you need to handle afterward.
In what form must I provide notice?
In writing, with your original signature. The law requires written form for all notices (§ 623 BGB). You must provide a physical letter of notice that you have signed and either handed over or sent to your helper.
Verbal notice, emails, text messages, or WhatsApp messages are insufficient. Notice given in these ways is invalid, and the employment relationship will continue. Many people make this mistake precisely because most other daily matters are handled via messaging.
What notice period applies?
Four weeks to the 15th or the end of a calendar month. This is the statutory base period under § 622 BGB, and it applies to both mini-jobs and larger employment roles. For example, if you give notice on the 3rd of a month, the employment ends four weeks later, on the next 15th or the end of the month.
Two special points:
- Probation: if a probationary period has been agreed upon, a shortened notice period of two weeks applies during the first six months.
- Private household: the longer notice periods that typically apply to employers and increase with the length of service do not apply to private households. For you, it remains four weeks, regardless of how long your helper has been with you.
It is best to specify the notice period directly in the employment contract.
Do I need to provide a reason for the notice?
For standard notice, no. The Dismissal Protection Act, which otherwise requires a socially justified reason for termination, only applies to businesses with more than ten employees. Private households are exempt, meaning you can provide notice while observing the required period without needing to state a reason.
This is different from summary dismissal. It is only possible for a compelling reason (§ 626 BGB), such as theft, and takes effect immediately without a notice period. In standard cases, ordinary notice with a notice period applies.
Who am I not allowed to dismiss without cause?
Despite the lack of general protection against dismissal, there are specific protected groups. You can only give notice under limited circumstances, and usually only with official approval, in the case of:
- Pregnancy and up to four months after childbirth. More on this in the post Pregnant domestic helper.
- Severe disability, where the approval of the integration office is required.
- Parental leave.
In addition, notice must never be discriminatory or obviously unfair. When in doubt: stay professional and observe the notice period.
What do I need to take care of after giving notice?
The notice letter is not the end of the process. Three things are required:
- Pay out remaining vacation days. If your helper still has unused vacation days, you must pay them out. How this entitlement is calculated is explained in the post Domestic helper vacation.
- Issue a reference letter. Upon request, you are required to provide a reference. What should be included is in the article Reference letter for a domestic helper.
- Deregister the job. For a mini-job, you deregister the helper via the Haushaltsscheck with the Minijob-Zentrale; for a job subject to social security contributions, you do so via the health insurance fund.
What does quitt take care of for me?
quitt is an app-based service that handles the employment of your domestic helper for you, from start to finish. quitt provides you with a legally sound notice letter, prepares the final settlement including remaining holiday, and deregisters the job. You don't have to worry about the correct notice period or the deregistration process yourself.
You remain the employer throughout and decide whether and when to give notice. quitt handles all the work behind the scenes. And when a new helper arrives, registration is just as easy—see our blog post Hiring a domestic helper.
Not with quitt yet? Start the registration and quitt takes over registration, payroll, and deregistration. You can see what the service costs on our pricing page.
quitt handles the deregistration too
quitt provides the notice letter, settles the remaining holiday, and deregisters the job. You stay the employer, we do the rest.
