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[cogdoc]

How do contractual agreements work for academic employees (postdoc-level) in Germany?  I have seen colleagues leave at various times, mid-year to accept new positions elsewhere.  My boss has recently mentioned surprise that I would possibly leave before my contract is over, even though it ends mid-year.  Thoughts?

[sandgrounder]

Depends on your contract I suspect: is it befristet or unbefristet, a Drittmittelstelle or a university-funded post? Or is it at a research institute? Assuming it's a standard uni postdoc under whatever the BAT system is now called, the rule used to be you could give 1 month's notice starting at the end of a month if you'd been there less than a year, 6 weeks if between 1-5 years. It may be different if teaching is involved. I doubt it's changed much. Have a look at your contract -if it just refers to allgemeine Arbeitsbedingungen rather than spelling out the detail on this, then it must say which set of rules it's working to, and then you should be able to get a detailled copy from HR.
Culturally I've noticed though that although Germans do leave jobs before the end of a contract if they have another better job to go to, it does seem to be the norm to work out a contract in full, then apply elsewhere while receiving unemployment benefit. I left mine three months early because again it was a mid-year finish and yes they did think I was mad, even though I was going to another job. I just put it down to one of those cultural differences...