DE Pregnancy

Whether it’s you or someone on your team — congratulations! 🎉
This is such a special and exciting time, and we’re here to support you every step of the way — before the birth, during leave, and when you return to work.

Pregnancy, childbirth, and the first few months of a new baby’s life are deeply meaningful (and often overwhelming!). That’s why both the law and Flink offer special protections and support during this time.

Please raise a ticket or email [email protected] as soon as your pregnancy is confirmed.
Attach a certificate from your doctor or midwife with:

Also inform your manager directly.

➡️ Once we receive this, the People Team will send you a formal confirmation with all your rights and obligations.

If you're covered by statutory health insurance, you’ll receive:

✅ To ensure everything runs smoothly, please inform the People team in advance.

First of all: Congratulations! 🎉 Please send a scan of the birth certificate to [email protected] as soon as possible.
If the child has a different surname, include the acknowledgement of paternity.

DE Parental Leave

Parental leave gives you the opportunity to care for and bond with your child. Each parent is entitled to up to 3 years of leave and your job remains protected.

✉️ You’ll receive a written confirmation from the People Team.

Parental allowance is optional, but many parents apply since there’s no salary during parental leave.

💡 Align your leave dates with the child’s birth month to avoid benefit reductions.

You can apply for parental allowance in writing at your local parental allowance office (Elterngeldstelle).
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For further information, click here.

You’ll stay covered just like before:

✅ Please check with your insurer - premiums may change during leave.

Per §17 BEEG, your vacation entitlement can be reduced by 1/12 for each full month of parental leave — unless you're working part-time during that time.

💡 If possible, try to use your vacation before your leave begins to avoid loss or complications.

Yes, it’s possible! You can work up to 32 hours/week during parental leave (§15(4) BEEG).

📌 Include:

⏳ According to the BEEG, the employer must decide on the application within 4 weeks. Please note that while we strive to accommodate these requests, an application for parental part-time can be rejected if urgent operational reasons stand in the way. After parental leave, you can return to your regular working hours.

DE Special Leave

For all types of special leave (except child sick leave and educational leave):

For child sick leave and educational leave, please follow the separate instructions below.

Here’s an overview of additional leave types available to Flink employees. For any questions or special circumstances, please connect with your manager and the People Team.

💍 Marriage Leave
You are entitled to 1 paid day off for your own wedding.

👶 Birth of a Child (Non-Birthing Parent)
Non-birthing parents are entitled to 1 paid day off following the birth of their child.

🖤 Bereavement Leave
In the unfortunate event of the loss of a close relative, you are entitled to 1 paid day off.

We want to be as supportive as possible during this difficult time. If you feel you need more time, please don’t hesitate to speak with your manager and the People Team.

👶 Caring for a Sick Child (Kinderkrankengeld):

We understand that family comes first, especially when a child is unwell. In Germany, you are legally entitled to take time off to care for your sick child, with payment for this time covered by your health insurance provider. This is known as Kinderkrankengeld.

Entitlement: As a single parent, you are entitled to 30 days of leave per child, with a maximum of 70 days total per calendar year if you have several children.

To ensure a smooth process, please follow these steps:

📦 Relocation Leave
If your relocation (to a different city or country) was initiated by Flink, you’re eligible for 1 day of paid leave within your first 3 months.

⚖️ Jury Duty
Leave depends on the number of days required by the court.
📄 Please submit the official jury duty document to the People team.

📚 Educational Leave ("Bildungsurlaub")

Employees who have been with Flink for over 6 months and regularly work 5 days a week are entitled to 5 days of training time per year. In Berlin, educational leave ("Bildungsurlaub") is primarily intended for professional or political education and personal development. It should involve improving professional skills, language courses, or other recognized personal development programs that align with professional or civic engagement.

How to take Education Leave:

Important facts:

🔎 Browse recognized courses:
​ https://www.berlin.de/sen/arbeit/weiterbildung/bildungszeit/suche/