Working Student in Germany with No Contract

[skip99]

I think a lot of posters are reading into this too much. OP says they have a long term EU residence card, which based on this site sounds like OP would be able to work in Germany.

OP - I went to college in the UK. I worked for a couple of barns while I was there. Nobody famous, just local places with nice horses. Never any paperwork and cash payment (~15 years ago now ). I sure worked hard but I got to ride and experience so much more than I ever had and ever will in the US. I’d do it again in a heartbeat so my vote is go for it.

Quick edit to add - it sounds like OP was initially on a student visa then stayed the length of time required in their country to get the long term residency card. If in doubt OP can contact the proper government authority to confirm.

[Angela_Freda]

Thanks for mentioning that, I kept meaning to.
The thread about it really should be ready by the OP or anyone considering being a WS.

[Bristol_Bay]

@Chestnut24

Sorry, I think everyone is overreacting a bit here… it sounds like an opportunity to work/ride with a big name rider for a short time… a month or two is pretty limited, more like an internship, and probably therefore not worth it on the side of the host to go through lots of paperwork etc.

Will the OP probably be overworked? Perhaps
Not get 100% what they wished? Okay

But it might be a good learning experience and offer insight into the German riding sytem and other things she didn’t expect. Life is an adventure!

I did something similar in the Netherlands when I studied there, and left pretty soon after I ended up being more or less an unpaid groom. But it was still interesting and I don’t regret it. As long as the biggest risks are covered (do you have health insurance?) I wouldn’t call it a no-go just because there is no contract.

THANK YOU

[Scribbler]

OP could be totally fine to work or OP could have no work privileges whatsoever, or anything in between. But the OP doesn’t know and doesn’t seem in any rush to find out. Ive traveled and studied and worked and lived abroad honestly can’t imagine not having all that totally clear in my own head before I even set out. Granted I was mid 20s not undergrad age when I first went traveling but I think I’d want to know that even when I was 19.

[Rumorhasit93]

Join the “grooms ONLY inside story” group on FB and ask the group of this person is good to work for. They’re an excellent resource. Good luck!

[hoopoe]

Not sure, perhaps @Manni01 knows, does the German FN have anything to say about non-contract hiring?

[Baybear]

I would think a BN international rider would want an employment contract of sorts, and one would also imagine they would hire someone for longer than a couple of months. More details about the actual job - is this a WS internship sort of thing? Sure working in Europe sounds glamorous but this just sounds kind of weird to me.

[Manni01]

Ok I tried to read through this thread. First of all here is a link to somebody (dressage facility) who offers something similar to what the OP wants to do… https://gestuet-moorhof.de/praktikum/?cookie-state-change=1719980595305
In Germany it’s called Praktikum and a contract is not required although recommended .
And I guess it’s really mostly a personal choice of the OP.
If she thinks it’s worth to spend time in the barn of a famous jumper to get the chance to learn about the business either because she wants to work in this sector later on or simply because she wants this once of the life time experience she should do it.
I hope OP is aware how hard the work will be. It will probably be fun but long hours. If she simply wants to spend a nice summer in Germany there are probably better ways.
And she needs to be aware that the industry is tough. This Olympian rider offers Praktika (unpaid internships) because she can…
Not sure whether this is the rider but this working student was obviously happy … https://www.reitschule-strasslach.de/aktuelles-reitschule-strasslach/adeles-pferdeblog.html

[skydy]

@Manni01
Hello Manni. Your young mare looks lovely.

Do you know if the student visa, or resident “EU visa” that the OP has, allows them to legally work in Germany, if they are not studying at a German university?

I realize that this is probably not your area of expertise, but many here are hoping that the OP is not going to do something illegal, or risky, and get into trouble.

[Manni01]

I am not an expert on working permits, but I found this, and to me it looks like the OP should be fine….

Interns from abroad

[skydy]

That opportunity provides no insurance and I doubt that the offer of insurance to OP can be managed if the OP isn’t working legally.

[skydy]

Thank you Manni!

I hope that the OP will have a good experience and will not have any troubles.

I think that the OP should clarify his/her status with the German authorities before taking the job. A direct communication with the entities involved is preferable than asking on the internet.

There are very different opinions here about the risks the OP will be taking. So,OP, contacting the people that deal with visas on your end, and the German authorities involved on the other, would (obviously) be the best way forward.

[Manni01]

I would say it depends on her experience as a horse person and on her duties….
If riding is included I personally would not do it…. If the OP is only tacking up horses clean Stalles and goes to shows, that’s probably fine.
I believe most accidents happen because people don’t know their limitations…… the OP needs to make a clear list of her goals and about potential risks in that internship.
And she needs to make an honest assessment about her riding ability if riding is included!!!
And she can always leave any day to go back to her relatives if things don’t go as planned….
I was in a huge GP dressage barn when I was 16 and I still cherish that time…. I saw good and bad things and my whole idea about riding was changed. (My home barn was very low key…)

[skydy]

Were you managing working in a county foreign to you when you were young?

The OP sounds young, and international work is not as easy as it used to be.

[Manni01]

Ok about the insurance…. If the OP is attending University in Germany she is required to have an insurance anyhow. So many things are covered with that insurance. If the accident is related to her internship (let’s say a horse kicks her) the Olympian is required to have a specific insurance for her business (Berufsgenossenschaft). That insurance will cover all kinds of accidents related to the business. lets say the farrier will bring a helper (not even hired by him) and the helper gets kicked by one of the horses of the Olympian, the Berufsgenossenschaft insurance will cover this….
I am not an expert and there might be situations which are not covered, but Germany is not as dangerous as the US for workers

[Manni01]

But I thought she is attending University in Germany and does this as a summer activity…. So she has some ideas about Germany already….

[skydy]

The OP is not attending a German University. He/she says they have an “EU” student visa and EU residence, but they are not studying in Germany, or their posts would make no sense.

[Manni01]

Doesn’t really matter, if she has EU residence permit (for whatever reason) she is insured… That’s law in Germany…

[skydy]

That’s one good thing down, the insurance?

So anyone with an EU resident’s permit is allowed to work in Germany?

[Manni01]

I am not an expert but I think yes! This link explains it better…

https://www.pforzheim-integriert.de/en/living/work/work-permits-arbeitserlaubnis.html