Salary and more
The following provides general information about working at the University of Potsdam, including the wage tariff system, company pension plan, options regarding flexible working hours, and holiday allowances for employees, as well as rules governing performance bonuses and special leave.
Wage tariff
Salary group
Salaries at the University of Potsdam are oriented towards the collective wage agreement for public servants of the German states. The level of your salary is determined by the salary group and the tasks for which you are responsible.
Level system
Within each salary group, there are levels based on experience. You will be assigned to one of these levels based on the determination of your relevant professional experience. The wage tariff table specifies your salary. The level term will continue over the duration of your employment, which means that your level will rise in accordance with the collective wage agreement as you gain more experience.
Collective wage agreement for public servants of the German states (TV-L)
Company pension plan
Anyone who becomes employed at the UP is enrolled from day one in the funded company pension plan “VBLklassik” of the Federal and State Government Employees’ Retirement Fund (VBL). This compulsory insurance, which is regulated by collective agreement, is a basic insurance for your lifelong company pension. Temporarily employed scholars can be exempted from compulsory insurance upon application.
VBL - The company pension plan for public servants
Films explaining the VBL pension plan
Furthermore, you can make provisions for your old age and close your pension gap by making additional contributions or by using the option of deferred compensation. In the case of deferred compensation, part of your gross salary can be converted into a company pension entitlement of equal value. In addition, in accordance with Section 1a subsection 1a of the Act on the Improvement of Company Pension Plans (BetrAVG), you receive up to 15 percent of the voluntary contributions as an employer subsidy, depending on your pay. Your contributions are exempt from tax and social security contributions up to a certain amount.
Further information from the VBL regarding deferred compensation
Further information from the state of brandenburg on the employer subsidy for deferred compensation
In addition, the UP offers individual counseling on pension insurance issues.
Working time arrangements
Flexible attendance working hours (flex time)
Since 1995, the principle of flexible working hours has applied to non-academic staff, with the exception of part-time employees. This allows a flexible start of work between 6:30 and 9:00, and an equally flexible end of work between 15:00 (14:00 on Fridays) and 19:00. The regulations on flex time are set out in a service agreement dated November 19, 2012. Individual working time models that deviate from this can be discussed with the direct superiors if necessary.
Service agreement regarding the continuation of flexible working hours
Alternating home office
Alternating home office means that part of the work is done from home, especially by means of electronic media, and the other part is done at a fixed workplace at the employer’s location. Non-academic employees at the University of Potsdam can apply for alternating home office at the Division of Human Resources after prior consultation with their supervisors. The application must contain precise information about the planned scope as well as the tasks that are to be worked on at home.
Service agreement regarding alternating home office
Reduction of working hours
If the demands of caring for or looking after children or other close relatives become too much for the time remaining after working hours, one solution may be to reduce the working hours. Section 8 of the Part-Time and Fixed-term Employment Act (TzBfG) provides for the fundamental right to work part-time for employees who have already been in service for more than six months. You must give at least three months’ notice of your request to reduce your working hours. The employer must agree; however, the employer can also reject the request for operational reasons (up to one month before the reduction in working hours was supposed to begin). In order to achieve a good work-life balance, the University of Potsdam encourages and enables part-time employment, including in management positions.
Long-term work account
Permanent employees or employees with a fixed term of at least one year can agree on a long-term work account. The long-term work account is a savings account for more free time. With a maximum duration of 12 years for the long-term agreement, you can accumulate continuous paid time off of up to two years, depending on the amount of hours contributed and if certain requirements are met. The Division of Human Resources and Legal Affairs can assist you with counseling and filing the application.
Vacation
Recreational vacation
In each calendar year, you are entitled to 30 vacation days for full-time employment in accordance with the Collective Wage Agreement for Public Servants of the German States (TV-L). Further information on recreational leave is provided on the Intranet.
University closure period
Within the framework of a service agreement, the University of Potsdam, together with the staff council for technical and administrative staff, decides on the annual university closure period at the turn of the year.
Service agreement regarding university closure from 2025 to 2026
Special leave
There are various options for taking leave or a leave of absence, with or without continued payment of salary. You can find more information on the Intranet
Educational leave of absence
Based on the Continuing Education Law of the state of Brandenburg, the University of Potsdam supports private continuing education by granting time off for 10 days in two consecutive years.
Information regarding the Ministry for Education, Young People and Sports
Special benefits / Incentive system
Granting of special benefits
Performance should be rewarded – a bonus of up to one month’s salary is meant to motivate our employees.
Service agreement regarding performance-related remuneration
Annual bonus
Salaried employees who are employed by the University of Potsdam on December 1 are entitled to a special annual payment (Section 20 subsection 1 TV-L). You also have the option of converting your annual bonus into special leave. Please speak with your human resources officer for more information.
Guidelines on special leave instead of annual bonus