Overall Conditions

Whether a postdoc position is funded using budgetary resources or external funding, a postdoc’s rights and obligations are based on the generally applicable principles of labor and employment law, the pertinent collective agreement (Tarifvertrag) (TV-L FU), the provisions of the Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz (Fixed-Term Research Contracts Act) and the Higher Education Act (Hochschulgesetz) for the state of Berlin, and, where applicable, the allocation guidelines.

As a general principle, researchers whose employment is sponsored by earmarked external funding are not obligated to engage in teaching activities except as required by their specific duties and/or the allocation guidelines.

Recipients of Scholarships, Grants, and Fellowships

Recipients of scholarships, grants, and fellowships are not employed, so they do not have the rights or obligations of employees. If certain rights or obligations apply to these groups at all, they are listed in the allocation guidelines. A scholarship, grant, or fellowship is a type of funding earmarked for a specific purpose and with a specific aim, and no further rights or obligations can be derived based on this type of arrangement.

Salary, Working Hours, Maximum Duration of Employment

The Personnel division publishes these types of information, including process information, in circulars (Rundschreiben) or staff bulletins (Personalblätter). Employees and faculty members also receive occasional communications containing important information with their payroll statements.

• Bulletin No. 4 for Employees Working under a Collective Agreement, on the Transition to the Collective Agreement of the German Federal States / Tarifinformation Nr. 4 zur Überleitung in den Tarifvertrag der Länder (TV-L) (Staff Bulletin No. 07/2010) (pdf) (in German)
• Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz (Fixed-Term Research Contracts Act) (pdf) (in German)

For further information, please see the staff bulletins of Freie Universität (Personalblätter).