[erinnh]

It is possible to be sued for damages in Germany if you quit and don't come back to work during your notice period.

Its not very likely and hard to prove damages by the employer, but possible.

Nothing really stopping you from simply half-assing your job during your notice period, though.

[adrianN]

It is my understanding that you haven’t quit until your notice period is over, you just have given notice. As such it is not surprising to me that you still have to do the job or face some consequences; you signed a contract after all. You would sue your employer too if they fired you and then immediately stopped paying you.

[johnisgood]

Depends, in Eastern Europe "suing" does not happen often, in fact, it is quite rare, for both employers and employees. I see how people in the US are threatening to sue all the time, but that is not the case around here. It would take too much time and money and usually is not worth it.

[adrianN]

I don’t know statistics but here in Germany many people have insurance that pays for attorneys in case of conflicts related to employment and would make use of it.