Glossary

In English: Back pay

If a court finds the dismissal invalid, the job never ended. The company owes your salary for the whole time, minus what you earned elsewhere and minus benefits paid.

Watch out: If you have a new job by then, you can refuse to return within 1 week of the final judgment.

Legal basis

BGB §615, KSchG §11, §12. Checked against the statute text on 12 November 2026.

Open the simulator See Annahmeverzugslohn in action: work through a layoff case where it decides the outcome.

This page explains German employment law in general terms. It is not legal advice for your situation. If a layoff affects you, talk to an employment lawyer, your union or your Betriebsrat.