Nobody may be treated unfairly or harassed at work because of certain characteristics. This is regulated by the General Equal Treatment Act (AGG).
The essentials
- Protected are: racist reasons and ethnic origin, gender, religion or belief, disability, age and sexual identity.
- This applies to job applications, pay, promotion, everyday work and dismissal.
- Your employer must protect you and look into a complaint. People who complain must not be treated worse because of it.
Myth: If it is just comments, nothing can be done.
Fact: Not true. Harassment and sexual harassment also count as discrimination. You can complain to your employer.
What you can do
- 1Write down what happened: date, place, people involved and witnesses.
- 2Keep messages, emails or photos.
- 3Complain to your employer or to the responsible office in the company.
- 4Get support, for example from the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency, the works council or an advice centre.
MeaNext explains general rules about work in Germany. This information does not replace individual legal advice. In a specific case, your employment contract, collective agreement, works agreement and personal circumstances can be decisive.
Last expert review: 09/10/2026
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