Between Termination and Employee Participation—What Labor Law Reveals About Our Society

The third theme day in 2026 will focus on labor law—a field of law that directly shapes the daily lives of many people. A visit to the Federal Labor Court in Erfurt—the highest court in the German labor justice system and the court of last resort for labor law disputes—will give participants the opportunity to experience the highest court’s jurisprudence up close and engage in dialogue with experts. The focus will be on current issues surrounding rights and obligations in employment relationships, employee participation, protection against dismissal, collective bargaining autonomy, as well as discrimination and equal treatment in the workplace—and the role that law and the judiciary play in all these matters.

This theme day combines in-depth subject knowledge with a practical perspective and provides an opportunity for discussion and networking among all those who—whether in schools, newsrooms, or social service organizations—are involved in teaching about the law and the rule of law. 

Key influencers from the fields of education, social work, and journalism are provided with practical tools: How can the role of a supreme court be explained in an accessible way? What social divisions does labor law reflect? And why should labor law not be left out of education on the rule of law?

What are the theme days?

The theme days are one-day professional development sessions that combine a visit to a site related to law and the rule of law with practical discussions, expert presentations, and exchanges in a workshop format. Participants come from the fields of education (schools, civic education, adult education centers, and other educational institutions), social work (including volunteer youth leaders and social workers), and media and journalism. Other individuals with a professional connection to the subject area—such as lay judges or those active in politics—are also invited to participate.