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Germany: why confirm a former employee's job?

Every German employer already states the kind and length of the work in the written reference an employee is entitled to when the job ends. Confirming the same facts takes a minute and helps the person into their next job. certo asks on their behalf, with their explicit consent.

Law as of 26 October 2026 · Gewerbeordnung (GewO), § 109, as last amended by the Act of 20 July 2026 (BGBl. 2026 I No. 215); Bundesdatenschutzgesetz (BDSG), § 26, as last amended by the Act of 12 May 2026 (BGBl. 2026 I No. 139)

In short

  • The facts are already on paper. When employment ends, the employee is entitled to a written reference, which must at least state the kind and length of the work (GewO § 109(1)). Those are the facts we ask about, and what the person can already show any new employer.
  • It helps the person who worked for you. A record confirmed by a former employer is what the next employer trusts. Answering takes about a minute and needs no account.
  • certo asks on their behalf, with their explicit consent. The GDPR makes the person's consent a legal basis, and the Federal Data Protection Act (BDSG) treats a former employee's consent like an employee's (§ 26(2) and (8)). The person started this check themselves, for these facts and no others.
  • You do not have to answer. No German law obliges an employer to answer certo. Declining is fine.

The Trade Regulation Act

Gewerbeordnung (GewO), quoted from the official text on gesetze-im-internet.de.

§ 109(1): the employment reference

Der Arbeitnehmer hat bei Beendigung eines Arbeitsverhältnisses Anspruch auf ein schriftliches Zeugnis. Das Zeugnis muss mindestens Angaben zu Art und Dauer der Tätigkeit (einfaches Zeugnis) enthalten.

In English: when employment ends, the employee is entitled to a written reference, which must at least state the kind and length of the work (a simple reference). These are the facts we ask about, the job title and the dates, so your records already hold them. Performance and conduct belong to the fuller reference only the employee can ask for; certo never asks about them.

§ 109(2): nothing between the lines

Das Zeugnis muss klar und verständlich formuliert sein. Es darf keine Merkmale oder Formulierungen enthalten, die den Zweck haben, eine andere als aus der äußeren Form oder aus dem Wortlaut ersichtliche Aussage über den Arbeitnehmer zu treffen.

In English: the reference must be clear and understandable, and must not contain marks or wording meant to say something about the employee other than what its form and words show. certo's page leaves no room for that either: you tick a listed fact or leave it, and add nothing.

What is never asked

We found no provision of German statute that lists the questions an employer may not put to a job applicant. The General Act on Equal Treatment (AGG, § 1) aims to prevent discrimination on grounds of race or ethnic origin, sex, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual identity. certo never asks you about any of these, nor about health, family, pay, performance, the reason for leaving or a criminal record.

Personal data

The GDPR applies directly in Germany; the Federal Data Protection Act (BDSG) supplements it. Quoted from the official text on gesetze-im-internet.de.

BDSG § 26(2): consent in employment

Erfolgt die Verarbeitung personenbezogener Daten von Beschäftigten auf der Grundlage einer Einwilligung, so sind für die Beurteilung der Freiwilligkeit der Einwilligung insbesondere die im Beschäftigungsverhältnis bestehende Abhängigkeit der beschäftigten Person sowie die Umstände, unter denen die Einwilligung erteilt worden ist, zu berücksichtigen. Freiwilligkeit kann insbesondere vorliegen, wenn für die beschäftigte Person ein rechtlicher oder wirtschaftlicher Vorteil erreicht wird …

In English: where an employee's data is processed on the basis of consent, whether it was freely given is judged in particular by the employee's dependence in the employment and the circumstances in which it was given; it can be free in particular where the employee gains a legal or economic advantage. The person no longer depends on you, asked for this check themselves, and gains a confirmed CV.

BDSG § 26(8): a former employee counts

Bewerberinnen und Bewerber für ein Beschäftigungsverhältnis sowie Personen, deren Beschäftigungsverhältnis beendet ist, gelten als Beschäftigte.

In English: applicants, and persons whose employment has ended, count as employees.

  • Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR, consent. The legal basis for your answer.
  • Art. 7(1) GDPR, proof of consent. certo records which account asked, when, and for which facts. Write to support@certo.bio and we send you the record for your request.
  • Art. 5(1)(c) GDPR, data minimisation. You confirm or leave unticked only the facts listed. Add nothing else: anything beyond them is not covered by the person's consent.

What this means for your answer

  • Tick only what your HR, payroll or personnel records show.
  • Not sure it is the same person? Press "We can't find a matching record". Never confirm a record you are not sure is theirs.
  • Your policy is not to answer? Press "We do not answer these requests". The record shows your organisation declined, and nobody else there is asked.

Sources

This page is not legal advice. It reflects the law as it stood on 26 October 2026.