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How German executives gained the right to family leave
30/08/2021
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Dr Jessica Jacobi
Dr Jessica Jacobi is a partner specialising in employment and data privacy at Kliemt

On 12 August 2021, new German legislation came into force entitling executive board members to three months family leave in cases of maternity, paternity, sickness, or of needing to care of an ailing family member.

German employees have, of course, been entitled to this kind of leave for decades. But, German law draws a clear distinction between employees, who are worthy of protection, and of board members, who are under a civil law contract and have typically not been covered by many employment protection laws.