Job Discussion Forums

[matador]

I hear that freelance is the only option in Germany. How much is a reasonable figure for a 45 minute lesson? I heard that 20 Euros is good.

[Hod]

Twenty Euro per 45 minutes is quite good, as long as the travelling time to and from companies isn�t too high.

There are three main types of job here:

1. Freelances can take the hours they want, and turn down those they don�t. Your boss is under no obligation to offer you work, so stay on his good side. Strictly speaking, German law prohibits freelancers working for only one school. This is a bonus because you can also pick up cushy private jobs, but not your Boss�s clients � bad idea. Freelance teachers should pay full tax and some weird new pension payment. Being honest, most pay no tax. Unless you�re going to live here forever, don�t pay tax. Do as I say, not as I do: I pay all taxes, honest Herr Richter (Judge).

2. Fixed pay contract: I know a school offering a 12-month contract paying around 1500 Euro per month for 22 hours a week maximum. If you worked less than 22 hours/week, you�d get 1500 Euro. Do more, and you�d be paid overtime. You�d also receive sickness and holiday benefits. I rarely see such jobs advertised. The downside being that you mustn�t work for anyone else.

3. Normal contract: As per (2) except your pay isn�t fixed. Most schools offer a �safety net� so if you worked very few hours in one month, they�d pay you a minimum of say 1000 Euro. Such over-payments will be claimed back later. To me, this is a contract of slavery. If students are absent through sickness, work, holidays (they get 6 weeks a year), etc, the school won�t be paid and neither will you. It only takes a few cancellations before your income starts to plummet. Meanwhile, you�re stuck at home forbidden to work for anyone else.

Freelance really isn�t so bad.