Short Answer
Working without a physical contract exposes you to sudden shifts in salary, unrecorded hours, and immediate dismissal.
While verbal agreements are technically legal, you cannot easily enforce your agreed wage or vacation days without written proof.
What Most Expats Don't Realize
You worked for a full month based on a verbal agreement and a friendly handshake with the shop owner. On payday, the owner gave you half the money you expected and claimed you had agreed to a lower trial wage. You had no document to prove your actual rate, leaving you with a €1,200 deficit and no legal leverage to claim your missing funds.
What To Do
- Save all WhatsApp, Slack, and email exchanges that mention your hours, start date, and salary rate.
- Call the labor court's free advisory service (Arbeitsgericht) if your employer refuses to issue a written summary after one month.
- "Ich benötige eine schriftliche Zusammenfassung meiner Arbeitsbedingungen." (I need a written summary of my working conditions.) — demand this document from your employer immediately.
The Truth
No paper contract in Germany is a massive red flag. It usually points to administrative chaos or "Schwarzarbeit" (illegal work) to avoid paying your social security.