Working in Germany with Wanted

Wanted is a recruitment agency operating in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Portugal, and Slovenia. We employ professionals mainly in the technical sector for projects in oil and gas, construction, ship building, datacenters, among other industries.
Here’s a few clarifications about our process when you’re hired for a project in Germany.

• Starting

  Once we agree on your employment terms, you will send us your personal information (ID, IBAN, home address, social security number, certificates, etc.) so we can prepare your contract and other arrangements. The contract will be issued by Wanted Germany GmbH, our German company.

• Contract

   

  Before your start date, you will receive your employment contract from us, Wanted Germany GmbH. We kindly ask you to sign your contract by hand, as German law requires all contracts to be signed manually, not digitally. If you need assistance with printing your contract, we are happy to help.

  When sending your signed contract by post, please send it to:

  Wanted
  Schuijteskade 14
  1621 DE Hoorn
  Nederland

  Your contract is governed by German law, meaning all your social, pension, tax, and health contributions will be calculated according to German legislation.

  When your employment with us ends, it is important to save all your paperwork (salary slips, contract, etc.) for future reference. You may need it as proof of your working period in Germany or for tax purposes. These documents can be saved digitally.

  Additionally, when you stop working with us in Germany, we will provide you with a termination letter. Signing this letter is mandatory under German law, and it must also be signed manually on paper. Wanted will prepare the letter and send it to you for your signature.

• How do I get to Germany?

  We will arrange transport (flight, bus ticket or other) to Germany for you. We will take into consideration your availability and that you have time to rest before your working week starts.

  You will receive the travel confirmation via email or WhatsApp, with the details about departure and arrival time, as well as information about the luggage included.

  When you are travelling by plane it’s your responsibility to get from your home to the airport on time and at your expense. It’s also your responsibility to do the online check-in. Most airlines will charge a fee for check-in at the airport so it is better to do this online. If you are facing problems with your online check-in, you can reach out to one of us for help.

  When you reach your destination, one of our colleagues will pick you up from the airport and take you to your accommodation. If, for some reason, this is not possible, we will ask you to use public transportation instead. Send us a copy of the receipt or bill so we can pay you back with your first salary.

  If you are driving to Germany, we will pay you the kilometers in accordance with Germany law.

• What do I need to bring with me?

  We ask you to bring your own safety shoes, if you don’t have them, please let us know in advance.

  We will provide you with tools and other PPE, but you can always bring your own. Kindly inform us as soon as possible. Please always bring your ID/passport to Germany and to your work location as well.

• Where am I staying?

  We will arrange accommodation for you, usually in a house with multiple rooms for other Wanted employees. The costs will be covered by Wanted.

• How do I go to work every day?

  Transportation to work and back home is another benefit covered by Wanted.

  If you live in a house with other employees, you will have access to a shared company car. The driver of the car will receive a fuel card from Wanted which he/she can use to put gasoline in the car. If the fuel card is not available yet or if it is not working for some reason, then the driver must keep the fuel receipts and send them to [email protected]. We will pay these expenses back with the next monthly salary.

  The vehicle we provide is registered under one single person – the driver. He/she is responsible for the car. As such, fines and damages will be deducted from the drivers’ salary. German roads are highly surveilled, and fines are efficiently sent to the car owner. We advise you to follow the various traffic and road safety rules. You can download the WAZE app on your mobile phone. The app helps you get to where you’re going through real-time road alerts and an up-to-the-moment map. It instantly alerts you to traffic, construction, crashes, police and more.

  The fuel card has a limit set according to the distance. In case you’re the driver, ask for the limit once you receive the card.

  If you use your own car to go to work, you will receive a kilometer allowance, according to the German legislation.

• When is my salary paid?

  Your salary is paid monthly, in accordance with German law, typically around the 15th of the following month. Unfortunately, German law does not permit us to pay salaries weekly.

  To help with your daily and weekly expenses, we offer weekly advance payments. For a full working week from Monday to Friday, we pay €500 NET (€100 per working day). These advances are paid every Thursday, and deducted from your salary afterwards.

  Timesheets are often sent to Wanted directly by the worker. If this is your case, kindly submit your timesheet by Wednesday before 12:00 of the following week, at the latest. Send your timesheet to [email protected]. Other times, timesheets are submitted by the client, and you don’t have to do anything.

  Please note, when you start working with us, you will receive your first advance payment on Thursday of the following week. For this reason, we advise you to have money available for your initial days abroad.

  Questions regarding your payment, salary slip, or other, can be send on email to [email protected] and we will gladly reply with all the clarifications needed.

• Holiday

  Before making any holiday arrangements, you must get your holiday approved by your Site Manager or Supervisor. Once approved, kindly inform your contact at Wanted as well.

  At this moment, you can ask us for the payment of your holiday hours. Check your salary slip to find out how many vacation hours you currently have. If you have enough holiday hours, we will book these hours and you will receive it with the following salary payment. In total you have 20 holidays in Germany when working the whole year.

  Let us know in advance if you need assistance with transportation to go to, or return from, the airport. We try to be helpful but can’t always guarantee we have someone available to give you a ride, in particular with early/late flights.

• Payment of travel expenses

  Wanted will pay for your first flight when starting the project and the last flight back home, after satisfactorily finishing the project.

  In case you decide to leave before the end of the project, for whatever reason, Wanted will not pay your travel costs back home.

  At the end of the project, if we make you an offer to join a new project and if you decide not to accept it, Wanted does not pay for your travel costs.

  When you go on holiday, this will be at your expense. You can make your own travel arrangements as you please.

• What do I do when I’m sick?

  When you are sick and need to stay at home, you must make 3 phone calls about your situation:

  • Your Site Manager, before your shift starts.
  • Your contact person at Wanted, before 09h00 in the morning.
  • You have to go to a local doctor in Germany to get a written proof and official statement so the sick leave can be processed.

   

  When you need to see a doctor, you should book an appointment with a General Practitioner (it’s mandatory to make an appointment before going). We can provide you with contacts, if needed.

  If it’s critical, you can go directly to the hospital.

  However, if it’s not an emergency, you should call the doctor first and only go to the hospital if they advise you to.

• Payment of sick leave

  Sick leave is paid by Wanted for the first 42 days of your illness. After this period, the state takes over the financial obligations.

  Please note that a doctor’s certificate is required to ensure your sick leave is paid.

• Do I have health insurance?

  You are automatically insured by signing your contract of employment.

• House Rules

  Each landlord provides house rules, usually posted in the kitchen or hallway. Please respect these rules to avoid any issues. If you have questions, feel free to contact your Wanted representative!

  Whenever your project ends, please do the following:

  • Clean up your room.
  • Leave the bed sheets washed.
  • Arrange with Wanted office to hand in house keys, car keys and car, and other items you might have like tools.

   

  If you don’t follow these instructions, you might be charged a penalty fee.

  When you go on holiday, we might ask you to do the same, depending on duration and house availability. We ask you kindly to contact your Wanted representative to agree on the details, before you leave for holiday.