New Workplace Rules Take Effect in Germany: From Pay Transparency to Safety Officer Thresholds

Three separate regulatory changes — affecting pay transparency, sick notes, and workplace safety appointments — either take effect or gain binding force, while logistics firms continue to scramble for warehouse staff amid high demand.

Pay transparency: EU rules apply despite German delay

Starting June 8, the EU’s Pay Transparency Directive directly impacts German workplaces, even though Berlin missed the transposition deadline. Employees now have an expanded right to request information about their own salary compared to the average, broken down by gender. Employers must also disclose the expected starting salary before a job interview. The German government’s own implementation law is not expected before early 2027, according to the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs.

Electronic sick notes become standard

Since June 2, the electronic certificate of incapacity for work (eAU) is mandatory for all employee illness reporting. Workers must still notify their employer before their shift starts, but the doctor now transmits the certificate directly to the health insurance fund. The employer retrieves the data via social security reporting portals or payroll software.

Fewer safety officers required — but fines remain steep

Parliament raised the thresholds for appointing workplace safety officers under §22 SGB VII on May 29. Companies now need to designate a safety officer only when they employ 50 or more people — up from the previous threshold of 20. For firms with 21 to 49 employees, the duty only applies if particular hazards exist. In operations of up to 250 workers without specific risks, a single safety officer suffices. Experts recommend keeping existing safety structures in place for now. Violations can still trigger fines of up to €10,000.

With the safety officer threshold rising, many German employers are reassessing their risk documentation. Yet even where the legal requirement has eased, proper risk assessments remain essential to avoid fines of up to €10,000. A free toolkit provides 41 ready-to-use templates covering fire safety, manual handling, and lone working — helping you document hazards without starting from scratch. Over 37,000 companies already rely on it. Download the free Risk Assessment Toolkit

Logistics sector still hungry for drivers and warehousing staff

The need for skilled labour remains acute. In Villingen-Schwenningen, companies including Aesculap, Rheinmetall and EDEKA Südwest Fleisch are actively recruiting warehouse personnel. A current offer in Waghäusel pays €17 an hour for a full-time day-shift role in logistics, requiring a completed vocational qualification, a forklift licence, and a class B driving licence. Duties include goods receiving, order picking, and ERP system maintenance.

A cautionary tale from the district of Tuttlingen underscores how vital a valid licence can be. In November 2025, a 26-year-old parcel delivery driver was caught speeding. Checks revealed he had completed 247 trips without a valid driving licence. Prosecutors opened proceedings for repeated driving without a licence.

Workers who need a driving licence for their job but cannot afford it can seek support. Job centres fund class B licences through the placement budget — but only when a concrete job offer exists. In Munich, the individual co-payment is 25 per cent. Lorry licences (class C and CE) can be financed via education vouchers.

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