GitLab GmbH (Germany) information & benefits

GitLab GmbH (Germany) benefits and information specific to Germany-based team members.
This is a Secure Document

Per the stated [Roles & Responsibilities](/handbook/entity/gmbh-germany/#roles--responsibilities), changes to this page must be approved or merged by a code owner. All contributions are welcome and encouraged.

Scope

These standards apply to all GitLab team members hired through GitLab GmbH, which has a registered address at Elsenheimerstraße 7, München 80687, Germany.

Roles & Responsibilities

Role Responsibility
GitLab Team Members Responsible for understanding and following the requirements in this document
People, Legal, Payroll, Total Rewards, Absence Responsible for implementing and executing this document
People, Legal, Payroll, Total Rewards, Absence (Code owners) Responsible for approving changes to this document

We’ve Got You Covered

Clear benefits, real support

At GitLab, we believe team member benefits should be simple to understand and there when you need them. From life’s big moments to everyday questions, our comprehensive coverage gives you clarity and confidence so you can focus on your work and life.

In addition to the local benefits listed below, all Germany team members have access to the company-wide benefits available to all team members globally.

Currently, GitLab provides the below additional benefits, in addition to mandatory state requirements. General GitLab benefits still apply. As part of the guiding principles, we will continuously review our benefits design and offerings available through GitLab in Germany.

This guide provides clear information about the total rewards package for all GitLab team members employed through GitLab GmbH (registered at Elsenheimerstraße 7, München 80687, Germany).

Health & Well-Being

Eye Exam and Glasses Reimbursement

Coverage for computer glasses when medically necessary for your work.

Eligibility

All team members who require glasses specifically for computer screen use.

Coverage & Key Features
  • Reimbursement up to ‚Ǩ150 for basic frames and lenses
  • Covers glasses required solely for VDU (computer screen) use
  • Prescription from optician required confirming screen-specific need
How to Access
  1. Get eye exam and prescription from optician
  2. Submit prescription to total-rewards@gitlab.com for approval
  3. Once approved, submit receipts to Navan for reimbursement
Important Details

Glasses must be specifically for computer use, not general daily wear

Mandatory Social Insurance

GitLab and team members contribute to Germany’s comprehensive social security system:

  • Pension insurance (Rentenversicherung)
  • Health insurance (Krankenversicherung)
  • Long-term care insurance (Pflegeversicherung)
  • Unemployment insurance (Arbeitslosenversicherung)

Monthly contributions are calculated by payroll and shown on your payslip. Further information can be found on the Germany Trade & Invest Website.

Financial Security

Financial security you can count on.

Retirement Planning - Support Fund & Direct Insurance Plan

Dual pension plan structure supplementing mandatory state pension. Review the GitLab Germany Pension Deck and this one-pager for an overview of your pension plans.

Support Fund
  • GitLab contributes 1% of salary up to social security ceiling
  • Plus 6% of salary above ceiling
  • Automatic enrollment for all eligible team members
  • No employee contribution required
  • Eligibility: All full-time team members.
Direct Insurance Plan
  • GitLab matches your contributions up to 1% of pensionable income
  • Maximum employee contribution: ~7% of social security ceiling
  • Flexible contribution changes allowed monthly
  • Administered by Allianz with WTW support
  • Eligibility: All full-time team members.
  • Team members can also email this form directly to WTW (meinebAV@wtw.com) to obtain a quote for the salary sacrifice on the direct insurance plan.
How to Enroll/Amend Your Contributions
Contributions while on leave/when leaving the company
  • Fixed annual salary basis with monthly contributions
  • Contract documentation arrives within 8 weeks via post
  • Contributions pause during unpaid leave:
    • Direct Insurance: including unpaid, maternity, and paternity and extended Long Term Sickness (42 continuous calendar days of sick leave)
    • Support Fund: when a team member is not paid pensionable salary, with the exception of paid maternity and paternity leave. Contributions will cease the month after the team member goes on leave. ‚Äì For example if the team member goes on leave on May 2nd (i.e. they are active on the 1st of the month) they can continue the contribution for that month, the next month (June 1st) we will stop contribution. Contributions will start again the following month after the team member returns from leave.
  • Team member leaving the company: When a team member leaves the company, Total-Rewards will notify Allianz of the GitLab alumni‚Äôs leave date. The alumni can then expect a letter from Allianz with instructions on how to update the insurer of the pension plan from GitLab to the Team Member. Please contact meinebAV@wtw.com if you have any questions or may not have received your letter from Allianz.
  • Expert consultation available: meinebAV@wtwco.com

Personal Accident Insurance

Comprehensive accident coverage through Allianz.

Eligibility

Automatic enrollment for all team members.

Coverage & Key Features
  • Death benefit: 1x annual salary (max EUR 500,000)
  • Dismemberment benefit: 2x annual salary for 100% claim (max EUR 1,000,000)
  • Global coverage for work and personal accidents
  • Tax-efficient structure (premiums taxed only on claims)
  • Review the Group Personal Accident Flier (German | English) for additional details
How to File a Claim

Follow instructions in accident fliers (German | English).

Accidents at work that are fatal or lead to an inability to work for more than 3 days must be reported within three days of the accident to our Berufsgenossenschaft VBG.

  1. If you had an accident, please review the criteria by reviewing the Information panel to clarify if the accident is insured as a work accident
  2. If it meets the criteria for a work accident, please fill in this form and report your accident to the Absence Management Team by emailing the form to leaves@gitlab.com. Fields 2 and 28 will get completed by the Absence Management Team.
  3. The Absence Management Team will notify the VBG about the accident report and inform the specialist for occupational safety.

Further things to note: The injured team member has the right to a copy of the accident report and can request the final document by emailing leaves@gitlab.com.

Personal Life Insurance

GitLab does not plan to offer different Life Insurance Benefits because team members can access employer insurance and government pension schemes to help with payments in the event of a death of a family member. The GitLab Life Insurance plan still applies.

Family & Leave Transitions

This section summarizes the leave benefits for Germany team members. For detailed information on each type of leave, review the GitLab Germany Leave Policy.

Statutory Leave Protections (Gesetzlicher Schutz)

Important: Complete Work Cessation During Protected Leave

German law requires that during Mutterschutz and Elternzeit, team members are completely released from all work obligations. This is a statutory protection that cannot be waived.

What This Means for Team Members

During Mutterschutz (maternity protection) and Elternzeit (parental leave), you:

  • ✅ Must NOT log into any GitLab systems (Okta, Workday, Xactly, Slack, etc.)
  • ✅ Must NOT respond to work emails, Slack messages, or meeting invites
  • ✅ Must NOT approve any documents, compensation plans, or agreements
  • ✅ Must NOT meet any work-related deadlines
  • ✅ Must NOT attend any work meetings (including “optional” ones)
  • ✅ Cannot be disadvantaged for exercising your statutory leave rights (§ 16 BEEG)

Legal Basis: § 15 Abs. 4 BEEG mandates complete suspension of the employment relationship during Elternzeit unless part-time work (Elternteilzeit) has been explicitly agreed in writing.

Prohibition of Disadvantage (Benachteiligungsverbot)

Under § 16 BEEG and § 612a BGB, you cannot suffer any disadvantage for taking parental leave. This includes:

  • No loss of compensation components
  • No missed bonus or incentive opportunities
  • No negative performance implications
  • No pressure to work during protected leave
  • No requirement to meet deadlines set during your leave

If you receive any communication during your leave requiring action, you are NOT obligated to respond. Contact the Works Council (DE-workscouncil@gitlab.com) if you feel pressured.

Maternity Protection (Mutterschutz)

Eligibility
  • All pregnant team members and new mothers
  • Automatic entitlement under German law
  • Covers biological mothers only
How to Apply
  1. Inform your manager and leaves@gitlab.com about your pregnancy
  2. Submit medical certificate confirming expected due date
  3. Protection period starts automatically 6 weeks before due date
  4. Notify GitLab of actual birth date within 1 week of delivery
Payment
  • Full salary continuation during entire protection period
  • GitLab pays the difference between statutory maternity allowance and your regular salary
  • No impact on annual bonus or other benefits

⚠️ Important: Mutterschutz (maternity protection while on leave protected by statute) counts as active employment (Beschäftigungszeit), not as leave. All applicable employment benefits available to employees of GitLab GmbH will continue during Mutterschutz.

Table for birthing person

Period / Point in Time Beginning of Pregnancy Notification to Employer Remaining Pregnancy Time 6 Weeks Before Due Date Day of Birth 8 Weeks After Birth After Maternity Protection Ends Up to 12 Months After Birth Max. Until Child's 3rd Birthday
Salary (As per German Law) Regular salary Maternity pay Parental Leave Pay
GitLab Parental Leave not applicable 16 weeks of fully paid Parental Leave(can be taken flexibly within 12 months after birth) not applicable

Parental Leave (Elternzeit)

Eligibility
  • All parents (biological, adoptive, or registered partners)
  • Must be living with the child in same household
  • Available from birth until child’s 8th birthday
  • Each parent has individual entitlement
How to Apply
  1. Submit written request to leaves@gitlab.com 7 weeks before intended start
  2. Specify exact dates for first 2 years of leave
  3. Request third year with 13 weeks notice
  4. Complete Elternzeit registration form
  5. Coordinate handover plan with your manager
Payment
  • Unpaid leave with job protection
  • Optional: Apply for Elterngeld (parental allowance) from German government
  • Elterngeld provides 65-67% of previous net income for up to 14 months
  • Can work part-time (15-32 hours/week) while on Elternzeit

Table for partner of birthing person

Period / Point in Time During Pregnancy Day of Birth Up to 12 Months After Birth Max. Until Child's 3rd Birthday
Salary (As per German Law) Regular salary Parental Allowance (if taking Elternzeit) or Regular Salary
GitLab Parental Leave Regular salary 16 weeks of fully paid Parental Leave (can be taken flexibly within 12 months after birth) Return to work -> or Unpaid by GitLab

Table for adopting persons

Period / Point in Time Day of Adoption Up to 12 Months After Adoption Max. Until Child's 3rd Birthday
Salary (As per German Law) Regular salary Parental Allowance (if taking Elternzeit) or Regular Salary
GitLab Parental Leave Regular salary 16 weeks of fully paid Parental Leave (can be taken flexibly within 12 months after adoption) Return to work -> or Unpaid by GitLab

GitLab Family Leave Enhancement

GitLab GmbH employees in Germany are entitled to both the statutory German parental and Maternity Leave as well as GitLab’s global 16-week paid Parental Leave policy. Here’s how these policies interact:

  • Maternity Leave: The statutory Maternity Leave period (minimum 14 weeks for single births) is separate from and precedes both statutory German Parental Leave and GitLab’s paid Parental Leave.
  • Parental Leave: When overlapping with statutory paternity leave, GitLab’s paid Parental Leave will substitute for the gaps in payment.
  • No statutory paternity/Maternity Leave: If the GitLab team member does not apply for any statutory leave regarding the birth of their offspring, they are still eligible for GitLab’s global 16-week paid Parental Leave policy.
Eligibility
  • All GitLab team members becoming parents
  • Applies to biological, adoptive, and foster parents
  • Must be used within 12 months of birth/adoption
  • Available in addition to German statutory benefits
How to Apply
  1. Request through Time Away by Deel selecting “Parental Leave”
  2. Notify your manager at least 30 days in advance when possible
  3. Can be taken continuously or in blocks (minimum 1 week)
  4. Coordinate with Total Rewards if combining with Elternzeit
  5. Update your availability in Slack and calendar
Payment
  • 100% of base salary for 16 weeks
  • Continues all benefits during leave
  • No impact on bonus eligibility or equity vesting
  • Can be combined with partial Elterngeld if taking additional unpaid leave

Family Care Support

Flexible leave options for caring for family members in need, including emergency, short-term, long-term care and end-of-life support.

Leave Entitlement
  • Emergency care: Up to 10 days for acute situations
  • Short-term care: Up to 6 months full or partial leave
  • Long-term care: Up to 24 months partial leave (minimum 15 hours/week)
  • End-of-life support: Up to 3 months for accompaniment
How to Access
  1. Notify GitLab 10 working days before leave
  2. Email leaves@gitlab.com with medical certification
  3. Coordinate partial pay arrangements if applicable

Part-Time Work Options (Teilzeitarbeit)

German law provides several pathways to reduced working hours. These rights are statutory entitlements, not discretionary benefits.

Statutory Part-Time Rights (§ 8 TzBfG)

Team members employed for 6+ months have the legal right to request permanent reduction of working hours under § 8 TzBfG.

Eligibility

  • Employment relationship of at least 6 months
  • GitLab GmbH employs more than 15 team members (threshold met)

How to Request

  1. Submit written request to your manager and leaves@gitlab.com
  2. Specify desired weekly hours and preferred schedule
  3. GitLab will respond within 4 weeks

Important Notes

  • GitLab can only refuse for documented operational reasons (betriebliche Gründe)
  • No automatic right to return to full-time hours
  • GitLab prioritizes part-time employees for future full-time positions (§ 9 TzBfG)

Temporary Part-Time / Brückenteilzeit (§ 9a TzBfG)

Team members can request temporary reduction of working hours (1-5 years) with guaranteed return to original hours.

Eligibility

  • Employment relationship of at least 6 months
  • GitLab GmbH employs more than 45 team members (threshold met)

How to Request

  • Submit written request 3 months before intended start
  • Specify duration (minimum 1 year, maximum 5 years)
  • Contact leaves@gitlab.com for process details

Part-Time During Parental Leave / Elternteilzeit (§ 15 BEEG)

Parents on Elternzeit have the legal right to work 15-32 hours per week while on parental leave.

Eligibility

  • Currently on or planning Elternzeit
  • Work between 15-32 hours per week
  • Child under 8 years old

How to Apply

  1. Email leaves@gitlab.com or submit HelpLab ticket
  2. Include: start date, end date, weekly hours, preferred schedule

Notice Periods

Timing Required Notice
Before child’s 3rd birthday 7 weeks
Between child’s 3rd and 8th birthday 13 weeks

Process

  1. GitLab Legal drafts part-time agreement
  2. Agreement sent via DocuSign
  3. Once signed, Workday Data Changes processed

Note: Elternteilzeit is a legal entitlement under § 15 BEEG. GitLab can only refuse within strict legal limits and with Works Council involvement.

Works Council Involvement

Per § 87 Abs. 1 Nr. 2, 3 BetrVG, the Works Council has co-determination rights on working time arrangements. Contact DE-workscouncil@gitlab.com if you have questions about your rights.

Time Off Policies

Comprehensive support when you need time away.

Vacation Entitlement

Team members are entitled to 100% of their salary, to be paid by GitLab, for up to the first six weeks if they are unable to work due to an illness. This runs concurrently with GitLab’s Sick Time policy.

Eligibility

All team members from the start date.

Leave Entitlement
  • Team members are entitled to at least 20 vacation days. The days will accrue from the start date at a rate of 1.67 days/month
  • Must be taken within calendar year
  • Can carry over to March 31 of following year in special circumstances, if the team member was unable to take the holiday due to operational or personal reasons
  • Runs separately to with GitLab’s PTO policy, which can be used, but does not accrue
How to Request

Designate all vacation as “Paid Time Off” in Workday

Sick Leave Protection

Salary protection during illness.

Eligibility

All team members.

Leave Entitlement
  • 100% salary for the first 6 weeks of illness. This runs concurrently with GitLab Sick Leave Policy
  • Extended coverage available through health insurance after 6 weeks
  • Electronic AU certificate submission for statutory insurance holders
  • Simplified reporting process
How to Report
  1. Days 1-3: Notify manager and enter “Out Sick” in Workday
  2. Day 4+: Email leaves@gitlab.com with dates
  3. Private insurance holders: Submit AU certificate by day 4

Resources Available to You

Support that’s there when you need it, how you need it.

Key Contacts

Important Resources

Payslip provider

Papaya Global is the current pay slip provider. It is recommended to regularly download the pay slip pdf documents (German / English) and store them in a safe place. The provider also allows to access important tax documents:

  • Meldebescheinigung zur Sozialversicherung (this is an important document to keep because in this is proof that you paid into the pension funds).
  • Ausdruck der elektronischen Lohnsteuerbescheinigung (yearly tax certificate)
Last modified January 9, 2026: Handbook Simplification Project Benefits Philosophy (baac20e2)
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