[fabianholzer]

Germany as well: I have 3 month to the end of the month (there are btw also clauses which say to the end of the quarter, which makes them less flexible).

Six month is absolutely not unheard of, although I personally would be reluctant to accept the latter condition. I mean, the clauses are two-way, so they bind your employer as well and protect you from a sudden loss of income, but frankly, I think the benefit to these arrangement are a bit asymmetric.

[anakaine]

The appropriate thing to do is to point out the asymmetry and push back on the 6 month terms. In Germany if the standard is a 3 month notice period, then that is what you push back to.

[fabianholzer]

The standard in Germany is put down in the civil code (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch) as four weeks to the 15th or the end of a month. That means when you have a working contract which doesn't specify explicitly something else, it automatically applies as put down in the BGB. Still, it is perfectly legal (and also not unusual) to have longer periods. Anyway, it is still a market economy and contracts are negotiated between (in legal theory at least) two equal parties.

[AdamN]

6 months also means that would be the severance if laid off.