Most companies based in Germany still communicate in German. However, there is a tendency, particularly in international companies, to establish English as the working language because not all employees or customers speak German.
Working vs. company language
In order to answer the question of whether superiors can change the working language, it is first important to differentiate between the working language and the company language. The working language is the language that is used for official letters or work instructions etc., whereas the operational language is intended to be spoken in general and everyday interactions among colleagues. In order to specify or change the languages, employers must observe certain rules and requirements, according to an article by ntv.de.
Provisions in the employment contract are crucial
For companies based in Germany, German law applies to employment contracts – this also includes the German regulations for the company and working language. First of all, what is legally binding is what is written in the employees’ employment contracts. If German is set as the working language, the employer cannot simply specify another language – such as English or French. However, if there is no regulation in the employment contract, the working language can generally be specified by way of management law, explains Cologne-based labor law specialist Nathalie Oberthür in the ntv.de article.
It depends on the job description
But even without a regulation in the employment contract, certain requirements must be met. The desired language must, among other things, be part of the agreed job description. However, it cannot be said in general terms when this is the case and when it is not. According to the specialist lawyer, this should be assessed on a case-by-case basis and taking the operational situation into account. Among other things, the company’s interests in a particular use of language must be weighed up against the personal interests of the employees. Especially in international companies, in IT and software development, all jobs in tourism and service industries as well as marketing and communication, knowledge of English is often required, as the job portal indeed reports.
Special regulations for operating language
A change in the company language is also subject to the co-determination of the works council in accordance with Section 87, Paragraph 1, Sentence 1 of the Works Constitution Act (BetrVG). The reason for this is that the company language should be used outside of the business context – for example during breaks – and thus affects the general order of the company, explains Nathalie Oberthür.
Knowledge of English is usually an advantage
But even without mandatory regulations in the employment contract, a good knowledge of English and a command of several languages are an advantage. English has been the most important world language for several decades. Consequently, knowledge of English makes intercultural communication easier. According to the indeed report, employees can adapt more easily to different situations and work independently in a foreign language – which is particularly relevant in global companies or for (potential) managers.
Editorial team finanzen.net