Legal provisions, e.g., Family Care Leave Act (Familienpflegezeitgesetz, FPfZG)

How to achieve a better work-life balance when you have to care for someone
On 1 January 2015, new family care provisions were introduced. Further information can be found on the website of the Federal Government (in German only) or watch the video (in German only).

Care leave and family care leave
For current information about care leave and family care leave, please refer to the webpages (in German only) of the German Federal Government. If you are seeking further advice, please find answers to FAQs as well as information about a telephone hotline on the webpages (in German only) of the Federal Government.

How to apply for family care leave at Universität Hamburg
If you plan to apply for family care leave, please first talk to your immediate superior. For application formalities, please refer to the resonsible human resources clerk. Download family leave agreement forms (PDF, in German only).

From 1 January 2017: Pflegegrade (care degree) instead of Pflegestufe (care level)
The second act on care (Pflegestärkungsgesetz II) takes effect on 1 January 2017 and will bring many changes with it. Mental and psychiatric conditions, for example, will receive greater consideration than as has been the case previously. This should assist patients suffering from dementia in particular.

The care levels (Pflegestufen) will be replaced by five care degrees (Pflegegrade). Categorization into these care degrees will no longer depend upon the degree of assistance required, but rather upon the level of individual independence and skills.

An important topic in the new care act is the compatibility of care and work. The new services and benefits are designed to ease the burden on people in the workforce caring for relatives.

Further information can be found on the website of the Federal Government (in German only).