Dismissal statistics — German labour courts
The data points that matter: how often Kündigungsschutzklagen succeed, what proportion settle, and the realistic severance multiples in those settlements.
Outcomes at first instance
- ~75–80% settle at the conciliation or chamber hearing — typically with a court-supervised severance.
- ~10–15% are withdrawn after settlement out of court.
- ~10% are decided by judgment. Of those, employees win the majority where the KSchG applies.
Time to first hearing
Median time from filing to the first conciliation hearing (Güteverhandlung) is 4–6 weeks across most Arbeitsgerichte. Berlin and Munich tend to run longer; smaller courts faster.
Severance ranges
- Statutory baseline (§ 1a KSchG): 0.5 monthly salaries / year of service.
- Typical settlements: 0.5–1.0× for short-medium tenure, no special leverage.
- Strong cases (formal errors, long tenure, special protection): 1.0–1.5× and above.
- Senior executives and protected categories: regularly materially above 1.5×.
Notes on sources
Figures are aggregated from Federal Office of Statistics labour-court statistics and practitioner data. Individual outcomes depend strongly on the specifics of your case. The data is illustrative and does not constitute legal advice. For a tailored estimate, send your dismissal letter for a free review.
Use the severance calculator and legal-fees calculator for the numerical side of your case.
Tell us about your case
Fill in the form — we will review your situation. Free of charge, typically within 48 hours. We handle German labour-law matters in English.
What happens next?
After your enquiry we review the details and reply with an initial assessment — whether the dismissal can be challenged, how high a likely severance could be and which next steps make sense.
bektas@apos.legal
+49 6222 9599 2400
Response time: we reply within 48 hours on working days. If you have already received a dismissal, please mention it — deadline-sensitive cases are prioritised.