Employment: templates and forms

The written notice an employee in Austria gives the employer on going on sick leave (Krankenstand): when the incapacity began, how long it is expected to last and its cause — illness, accident, work accident or occupational disease — but never a diagnosis. Under the Austrian Salaried Employees Act (§ 8 Abs 8 AngG) and Continued Remuneration Act (§ 4 Abs 1 EFZG) the absence is reported without delay, and the confirmation of incapacity (Arbeitsunfähigkeitsbestätigung) shown when the employer asks. No form is prescribed: the letter is your proof. In German, ready to print and sign.

When your child is ill and you have to stay at home in Germany: the letter telling the employer and asking to be released from work under § 45(3) of Book V of the Social Code (SGB V). It asks for paid leave where § 616 of the German Civil Code (BGB) or the employment contract gives it, and otherwise announces the claim for child sickness benefit (Kinderkrankengeld) from the health insurer. For parents with statutory insurance and children under twelve; in German, with no diagnosis.

The notice by which an employee in Germany claims parental leave (Elternzeit) under § 16 of the Federal Parental Allowance and Parental Leave Act (BEEG): the child, the date of birth or due date, the start and end of the leave and any further periods, with the binding choice for the first two years and a request for confirmation. It must reach the employer at least seven weeks before the leave starts, or 13 weeks before leave after the third birthday. For children born or placed for adoption from 1 May 2025, text form such as e-mail is enough; for older children a hand-signed original is required. In German.

A fixed-term employment contract under the German Part-Time and Fixed-Term Employment Act (TzBfG), in German: without an objective reason (up to two years) or with one, such as standing in for an absent employee, a temporary need or a trial. It carries every term the Nachweisgesetz requires, the minimum wage, leave, notice during the term and a time limit for claims that excludes the minimum wage. The fixed term must be in writing, signed by both before the first working day, or the contract counts as permanent.

The notice in which an employee in Romania tells the employer they are on sick leave: from when, until when it is expected to last, the sick-leave certificate, the doctor who issued it and where that doctor works, and how to reach the employee. The rules implementing Emergency Ordinance no. 158/2005 require the employer to be told within 24 hours of the leave being granted. It also announces that the certificate will be handed in by the 5th of the following month, for the benefit to be worked out. An employee on sick leave cannot be dismissed, except in the employer's judicial reorganisation, bankruptcy or winding-up.

The addendum by which an employee in Romania undertakes not to disclose information learned during the contract, while it lasts and after it ends (art. 26 of the Labour Code): what is confidential, how long the duty lasts after leaving, and what cannot be forbidden — public information and reports protected by law. A breach gives rise to damages.

For an employee on an open-ended contract in Greece who has been dismissed and considers the dismissal void or abusive. In this out-of-court notice (εξώδικη δήλωση), served by a court bailiff, the employee contests the dismissal, offers to keep working and takes any severance pay only with a reservation. It is not compulsory and stops no deadline: the lawsuit for nullity must be served on the employer within three months of the end of the employment, and the claim for severance pay within six months of its falling due (art. 351 of the Greek Labour Code, Presidential Decree 62/2025).

An Italian letter, in Italian, from an employee telling the employer of an absence for illness: the start date, the end of the doctor’s prognosis, the protocol number (PUC) of the electronic certificate the doctor sent to INPS, and the address where the employee can be reached for the medical check. It is for cases where the collective agreement or the company asks for written notice and offers no portal of its own. Send it by PEC to the company’s certified address, by registered post with proof of receipt, or by hand. It holds health data, so it is sold blank and filled in by hand.

For an employed parent in Italy giving the employer written notice of the days of parental leave or compulsory paternity leave, at least five days ahead. Parental leave can be taken until the child is fourteen, also by the hour; the allowance is claimed separately, free of charge, with the online application to INPS or through a patronato. Paternity leave is ten working days paid at 100%. Hand it over, send it by PEC or by e-mail. In Italian.

A standard full-time fixed-term employment contract (CDD) for mainland France and the overseas departments other than Mayotte, limited to the two commonest grounds: replacing an absent employee or a temporary increase in activity (article L. 1242-2 of the French Labour Code). It contains the particulars of article L. 1242-12 — precise ground, end date, post, probation, pay, collective agreement, supplementary pension and provident bodies — and the 10 % end-of-contract payment. A CDD without a precise and true ground is deemed open-ended. Give it to the employee within two working days of hiring. In French.

A confidentiality agreement signed by an employer and an employee in mainland France or an overseas department other than Mayotte, on hiring or during the contract: it defines confidential information, forbids disclosing or using it outside work, during the contract and for a chosen period after it ends, and provides for documents to be returned. It also protects trade secrets (articles L. 151-1 et seq. of the French Commercial Code). It contains no non-compete clause and preserves the rights of whistleblowers and staff representatives. Signed in two originals. In French.

A confidentiality agreement for employees in Austria, in German, with the undertaking to keep data secrecy that every employer must obtain from its staff under § 6 of the Austrian Data Protection Act (DSG), including the information on transfer instructions and the consequences of a breach. It protects trade secrets under §§ 26a ff of the Unfair Competition Act (UWG) by naming categories and secrecy measures, leaves out the employee's own pay and whistleblowing reports, and offers an optional non-compete clause under § 2c AVRAG and § 36 AngG.

The notice telling an Austrian employer when your parental leave (Karenz) starts and how long it lasts, under the Maternity Protection Act (§ 15 MSchG) or the Fathers' Leave Act (§ 2 VKG): child and date of birth, leave from–to, the other parent's parts. For children born from 1 November 2023, Karenz runs to the end of the 22nd month, or the 24th if shared — the document prints the rule for your child. With a receipt block. Childcare benefit (Kinderbetreuungsgeld) is claimed separately from the health insurer, usually the ÖGK. In German.

A letter claiming unpaid wages, salary or overtime pay from an employer in Germany, sent in time to beat the exclusion period (Ausschlussfrist) in the employment contract or collective agreement, which is often only three months from the due date. It lists month, type of claim and gross amount, sets a payment deadline, claims default interest under § 288(1) of the German Civil Code (BGB), backs overtime with the employee's own records and can announce that work will be withheld. In German, to print, sign by hand and deliver with proof of receipt, and to e-mail as well.

The written notice in which an employee in Cyprus tells the employer they are off sick: from when, until when the absence is expected to last, which doctor is issuing the medical certificate and whether it is enclosed or will follow. It promises no pay for the first three days, for which no sickness benefit is paid, and asks for it only if the employment contract or a collective agreement provides for it. From the fourth day, sickness benefit is paid by Social Insurance.

The written notice in which an employee in Greece tells the employer they are off sick: from when, until when the absence is expected to last, which doctor is issuing the certificate and on what phone number they can be reached. The employer must be told at once, by any means, and the written notice proves when it was done. No paper certificate is enclosed: the doctor issues it electronically through the state e-prescription system run by IDIKA, and only electronic ones count. For the first three days the employer owes half pay (Greek Civil Code arts. 657–658).

The addendum by which a Romanian employer and employee agree on telework, with every element Law no. 81/2018 requires: days at the office, when and how the employer checks the work, how hours are recorded, the equipment and costs the employer covers, health and safety, data protection and the steps against the teleworker being cut off from colleagues. The telework location has not been compulsory since 2021, but the parties may agree on one.

The notice a Polish employee must give the employer promptly, and by the second day of absence at the latest: from when and until when the absence will last, the reason to underline — illness, caring for a child or family member, a closed nursery or school, or another — the document that will justify it, and a contact. An electronic sick note (e-ZLA) reaches the employer on its own, but does not replace this notice.

A Polish employment contract with an end date, carrying the elements art. 29 § 1 of the Labour Code requires and the limit in art. 25¹: no more than 33 months and three such contracts in total between the same parties — beyond that the contract becomes a permanent one. Since 2023 the employer's notice must state its reason, and the notice periods are the same as for a permanent contract.

A sick note is issued by the doctor, but the employer has to be told that you are absent — at once, not when you come back. This document does that in writing: the date your absence starts, the number of the sick note, and how to reach you. The notification does not replace the sick note; it goes with it.

A Spanish letter, in Spanish, for an employee on sick leave in Spain who wants to tell the employer in writing. Since 1 April 2023 (Spanish Royal Decree 1060/2022) the employee no longer hands in a copy of the sick note: the INSS, Spain's social security institute, sends its details to the employer electronically. The letter only reports the absence, its start date and, if wished, the estimated length, never the diagnosis. Hand it over against a signed receipt, send it by certified post or burofax, or use the channel set by the collective agreement. It holds health data, so it is sold blank and filled in by hand.

For an employer in Spain that wants to set down in writing what information an employee must keep secret, during the contract and afterwards. It defines confidential information, what is excluded, permitted use, the return of documents and equipment at the end and the period after termination, in line with the duty of good faith in the Spanish Workers' Statute and Spanish Law 1/2019 on Trade Secrets. It is not a non-compete clause: it does not stop the employee working for another business later. Both sides sign it. In Spanish.

For a business or professional hiring an employee in Italy on an open-ended contract, full-time or part-time. It sets out the national collective agreement (CCNL) applied, grade, duties, place of work, trial period (six months at most), hours, pay, holidays, notice and severance pay (TFR), and contains the written information required by Italian Legislative Decree 152/1997 as amended by the transparency decree. Signed in two copies before work starts. In Italian. Household staff have their own domestic-work contract.

For a private-sector employee in Italy whom INPS has granted the paid leave of art. 33 of Italian Law 104/1992, to care for a relative with a severe disability or for themselves. The application goes first to INPS, online and free, or through a patronato; this letter then gives the employer the details of the authorisation, with a copy enclosed, and the monthly schedule of days or hours, which the employer may ask for. The letter does not describe the disability. Send it by registered post, PEC or by hand. In Italian.