[Roxxik]

I think it is a little unusual, but nothing unheard of.

I started as a junior IT Consultant in Hamburg, Germany with a 3 month notice, but could only quit every half year. So for quitting at the end of june I had to give notice in march, and then the next opportunity was september for quitting at the end of december.

But since I'm going back to university now, we made a "Aufhebungsvertrag" so that I quit at the end of september. You have no right to it, but I have a good relation to my employer so they accepted.

EDITED for clarity

[ralferoo]

"with a 3 month notice, but could only quit every half year"

I know little about German law, but this sounds insane. I also certainly wouldn't call it 3 months notice, I'd call it 3-9 months notice.

The real question is whether the company could only fire you at these two times of the year as well, or whether it only had to give 3 months notice. If the latter, you might find the courts agree that the contract is unfair if you took it to a tribunal.