I was applying for a senior backend engineer job in this european startup in the healthcare sector.
I passed through 4 rounds of 1 hour interviews. Everyone was telling me this company is remote first, nobody works at the office.
Contract type is as remote on linkedin.
The offer arrived, 80k euros. They are very reluctant in giving the contract to me so I can proceed with the bureaucracy regarding blue card and job change before 12 months.
The contract arrives and it’s full of traps:
- They can require work on weekends and holidays with no notice
- There isn’t a single mention to remote working on the contract
- They can relocate me to any place with a 2 months notice
- HR refused to add remote clause on the contract
To make it even worse, they were processing my emails through an undisclosed AI tool using chatgpt, in which I’ve sent my personal documents.
Avoid these traps like hellfire.
Company name is Recare.
A lot of these clauses might be illegal under German labor law. Check with a lawyer. Also ensure there is a clause saying they have to sponsor your blue card. Many countries allow employers to cancel residence to “fire” in violation of labor law.
If the clauses are unenforceable, my suggestion would be to take the contract, get through the trial period and then mention the unenforceable clauses. That’s to say if you really want to go to Germany.
First clause is for a fact illegal. They have to give at least 24 hours for a shift change.
The other three things though, are fully legal