Do I have to inform my employer about my Minijob?

Legal basis:

There is no general law that always obliges you to inform your main employer about your work in a Minijob.
However, in practice this is in most cases necessary or strongly advisable for the following reasons:

1. Clause in your main employment contract (Nebentätigkeit / secondary job)

• Many employment contracts in Germany contain an explicit clause requiring you to inform your employer if you take up any secondary employment (including a Minijob).

• Sometimes you are even required to obtain prior written approval (Genehmigung) before starting any side job.

• The purpose of this is to ensure that your additional job

  • does not negatively affect your performance in the main job,

  • does not create a conflict of interest or direct competition, and

  • does not exceed the legal limits on working time under the Arbeitszeitgesetz (Working Hours Act).

2. Statutory working time limits

• The total number of hours you work (main job + Minijob) must not exceed the legally allowed maximum – usually 48 hours per week.

• If you exceed this limit without informing your employer or obtaining their consent, you may face legal and employment-related consequences.

3. Conflict of interest or competition

• You are generally not allowed to work for a direct competitor or in an area that might harm the interests of your main employer without their consent.

• In certain sectors (e.g. banking, tech, research) this issue is particularly sensitive and may be explicitly restricted or prohibited.

4. Social insurance and taxes

• Your Minijob can sometimes affect social security contributions, tax treatment, or company benefits.

• For this reason, some employers require employees to report secondary employment to avoid problems later on.

5. Risks of not informing your employer

• If you fail to inform your employer and the Minijob is discovered later – especially if your contract contains an information clause – you may receive a formal warning (Abmahnung) or, in serious cases, even face immediate dismissal.

• Informing your employer does not automatically mean that your Minijob will be rejected – in many cases it is simply for review and documentation.

Conclusion:

• Always check your main employment contract: If it requires you to inform or obtain approval for a Nebenjob / Minijob, you must comply.

• Even if nothing is explicitly stated, it is usually best to inform or ask in writing, for the sake of transparency and to avoid future disputes.

• You should always inform your employer if your side job is in the same field or could affect your performance or the reputation of your company.

Practical tip:
Send a short, formal request or notification to your main employer before starting your Minijob and keep a copy for your records.

The authors and editors of this website strive to provide accurate information based on extensive research and multiple sources. Nevertheless, errors may occur or some information may not be fully confirmed. Therefore, please consider the information in this article as an initial point of reference and always contact the competent authorities or professional advisers for binding and up-to-date information.