Your employment

First steps towards your first employment with Smart

Before employment

Before employment

Employment conditions

You will receive an employment contract for a job at Smart. The prerequisites for this are membership of the cooperative and orders that cover your employment costs. Of course, formal employment law conditions must also be met. 

Your membership of Smart does not mean that you are automatically employed by Smart. You must actively inform Smart of your employment request and submit orders. Your employment is only confirmed once you have received the employment contract from us by e-mail and then signed this contract and sent it back to us by e-mail.

Requirements for employment

Deadline
Any request regarding an employment contract for the following month must be communicated to us by the last day of the current month at the latest. For example, if you want to change your salary for February, you must let us know by January 31st.

Are you interested in a Minijob? Please read more here.

Before employment

Submit an employment request in the Smart Portal

Would you like to be employed by Smart and you already have orders? Then go ahead and submit a new employment request in the Smart Portal.

Do you already have a contract with Smart and want to prolong it or make a change? Then read further how to request a change.

1) Select the budget for your employment. Here you can choose between the Smart eG and the Smart Bildungswerk, depending on the acitivities you are processing.

Please note that your budget will be generated only after first order has been confirmed through Smart. Only afterwards will it be possible to create an employment request. You can find out more about creating an order here.

Smart eG and Smart Bildungswerk are two separate legal entities. Orders processed via one entitity can only be used to be employed by that company. If you process some orders via Smart eG and other via Smart Bildungswerk, you can request two separate employment contracts to pay out your budget.

2) Choose the start and end date of your employment.

3) Describe the job title as it should appear in your employment contract.

4) Choose a service category that comes closest to your profession.

5) Choose an employment category. Here you can see the name of the employment category and the total employment costs per month.

6) The working hours per week is a maximum value to guarantee the minimum wage. Make sure that you do not exceed the weekly number of hours. If your working hours per week differ, you can enter this in the comments.

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Send your employment request. You will receive a notification by e-mail as soon as we have processed your request.

Employment categories

Employment categories

Employment categories Smart eG

Here you will find the salary categories that can be selected for the employment contract with Smart eG. If you are employed by Smart Bildungswerk, please refer to the employment categories of Smart Bildungswerk.

*Important: All amounts in the table are rounded in € and refer to calculations based on the following: Year of validity 2024, tax class 1, without church tax, without child allowance, health insurance contribution 15.8% (Techniker Krankenkasse), pension insurance exemption for Minijob.

As your personal characteristics may differ from this calculation, the exact total cost of employment will be adjusted monthly in your budget. Minor differences are possible.

In the Smart Portal, you can select the employment category in the employment form. In the dropdown list you will be able to see the category number and the total employment costs including social security contributions and tax.

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1. Employment categories with access to social security system

In the table below you can find further information on the gross wage and number of working hours that will be shown in your employment contract, projected net salary as well as the minimum turnover needed to request the category.

Cat.

Total employment costs incl. Taxes and contributions 


Gross Wage amount in your employment contract in €

Working time / week in h


Net sum to be transferred to your bank account* in €


Required monthly net turnover (Total employment costs + Smart Fee) in €

1

720


560

9


556


790

2

785


615

10,5


595


863

3

875


690

12


645


962

4

965


765

13


700


1.060

5

1.060


845

14,5


755


1.165

6

1.150


920

16


810


1.265

7

1.242


1.000

17,25


865


1.365

8

1.331


1.075

18,5


918


1.465

9

1.420


1.150

20


970


1.560

10

1.515


1.228

21,25


1.025


1.665

11

1.605


1.305

22,5


1.080


1.765

12

1.695


1.380

24


1.130


1.865

13

1.790


1.460

25,25


1.175


1.965

14

1.880


1.535

26,5


1.220


2.065

15

1.975


1.615

28


1.265


2.170

16

2.062


1.690

29,25


1.305


2.265

17

2.151


1.765

30,5


1.345


2.365

18

2.246


1.845

31,75


1.390


2.468

19

2.335


1.920

33


1.425


2.565

20

2.425


1.995

34,5


1.465


2.665

21

2.525


2.075

36


1.510


2.775

22

2.615


2.150

37,25


1.555


2.875

23

2.705


2.225

38,5


1.600


2.975

24

2.800


2.305

40


1.645


3.080

25

3.032


2.495

40


1.755


3.335

26

3.263


2.685

40


1.865


3.586

27

3.500


2.880

40


1.975


3.846

28

3.731


3.070

40


2.080


4.100

29

4.200


3.455

40


2.295


4.615

30

4.667


3.840

40


2.505


5.130

31

5.621


4.625

40


2.920


6.180

32

6.477


5.330

40


3.278


7.120

33

6.596


5.428

40


3.325


7.250

34

6.950


5.738

40


3.495


7.640

35

7.108


5.880

40


3.572


7.810

36

7.610


6.332

40


3.820


8.365

37

7.994


6.677

40


4.000


8.785

38

8.115


6.784

40


4.055


8.920

39

8.353


7.000

40


4.165


9.180

40

8.615


7.236

40


4.275


9.467

41

9.136


7.703

40


4.495


10.040

42

9.295


7.847

40


4.560


10.215

43

9.675


8.203

40


4.740


10.635

44

9.950


8.480

40


4.885


10.935

45

10.175


8.703

40


5.005


11.181

46

16.500


15.027

40


8.485


18.135

47

10.550


9.080

40


5.205


11.595

48

995


818

5


640


1.095

49

1.170


940

16


820


1.290

50

3.495


2.847

40


1.970


3.840

100

0


0

0


0


0

2. Minijob categories (without access to health and unemployment insurance)

The calculations of the total costs are based on a Minijob that is exempt from pension insurance. If no exemption is desired, the net payment amount is reduced. You can find out more about exemption and Minijobs here.

You can choose the Minijob category as well as set the pension insurance preference in the employment form:

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Category  

Total employment costs incl. Taxes and contributions 


Gross Wage amount in your employment contract in €

Working time / week in h


Netto- sum to be transferred to your bank account* in €


Required monthly net turnover (Total employment costs + Smart Fee) in €

M1

93


71

1


71


102

M2

131


100

1,5


100


144

M3

215


165

2,5


165


236

M4

280


215

3


215


308

M5

373


286

5


286


410

M6

467


358

6


358


513

M7

560


430

7


430


615

M8

587


450

8


450


645

M9

622


480

8


480


684

M10

678


520

8


520


745

M11

704


540

8


540


774

Employment categories

Employment categories Smart Bildungswerk

Here you will find the salary categories that can be selected for the employment contract with Smart Bildungswerk.

*Important: All amounts in the table are rounded in € and refer to calculations based on the following: Year of validity 2024, tax class 1, without church tax, without child allowance, health insurance contribution 15.8% (Techniker Krankenkasse), pension insurance exemption for Minijob.

As your personal characteristics may differ from this calculation, the exact total cost of employment will be adjusted monthly in your budget. Minor differences are possible.

In the Smart Portal, you can select the employment category in the employment form. In the dropdown list you will be able to see the category number and the total employment costs including social security contributions and tax.

image.png

1. Employment categories with access to social security system

In the table below you can find further information on the gross wage and number of working hours that will be shown in your employment contract, projected net salary as well as the minimum turnover needed to request the category.

Category

Total employment costs incl. Taxes and contributions BW


Gross Wage amount in your employment contract in €

Working time / week in h


Net- sum  transferred to your bank account* in €


Required monthly net turnover (Total employment costs + Smart Fee) in €

1

740


560

9


556


815

2

790


615

10,5


595


870

3

888


690

12


645


975

4

980


765

13


700


1.075

5

1.076


845

14,5


755


1.182

6

1.167


920

16


810


1.282

7

1.261


1.000

17,25


865


1.385

8

1.351


1.075

18,5


918


1.485

9

1.441


1.150

20


970


1.585

10

1.538


1.228

21,25


1.025


1.690

11

1.630


1.305

22,5


1.080


1.791

12

1.721


1.380

24


1.130


1.891

13

1.817


1.460

25,25


1.175


2.000

14

1.908


1.535

26,5


1.220


2.100

15

2.005


1.615

28


1.265


2.205

16

2.093


1.690

29,25


1.305


2.300

17

2.184


1.765

30,5


1.345


2.400

18

2.280


1.845

31,75


1.388


2.505

19

2.371


1.920

33


1.425


2.605

20

2.462


1.995

34,5


1.465


2.705

21

2.563


2.075

36


1.510


2.820

22

2.655


2.150

37,25


1.555


2.920

23

2.746


2.225

28,5


1.600


3.020

24

2.843


2.305

40


1.645


3.125

25

3.078


2.495

40


1.755


3.385

26

3.313


2.685

40


1.865


3.640

27

3.553


2.880

40


1.975


3.905

28

3.788


3.070

40


2.080


4.162

29

4.264


3.455

40


2.295


4.686

30

4.738


3.840

40


2.505


5.210

31

5.707


4.625

40


2.920


6.270

32

6.576


5.330

40


3.278


7.225

33

6.696


5.428

40


3.326


7.360

34

7.056


5.738

40


3.495


7.755

35

7.217


5.880

40


3.572


7.930

36

7.727


6.332

40


3.818


8.490

37

8.118


6.677

40


4.000


8.920

38

8.241


6.784

40


4.055


9.055

39

8.483


7.000

40


4.165


9.321

40

8.749


7.236

40


4.278


9.615

41

9.279


7.704

40


4.500


10.195

42

9.440


7.847

40


4.560


10.375

43

9.827


8.203

40


4.740


10.800

44

10.107


8.480

40


4.887


11.105

45

10.336


8.703

40


5.005


11.360

46

16.778


15.027

40


8.485


18.440

47

10.718


9.080

40


5.205


11.780

48

1.010


818

5


640


1.110

49

1.187


940

16


820


1.305

50

3.548


2.847

40


1.970


3.900

100

0


0

0


0


0

2. Minijob categories (without access to health and unemployment insurance)

The calculations of the total costs are based on a Minijob that is exempt from pension insurance. If no exemption is desired, the net payment amount is reduced. You can find out more about exemption and Minijobs here.

You can choose the Minijob category as well as set the pension insurance preference in the employment form:

image.png

Category

Total employment costs incl. Taxes and contributions BW


Gross Wage amount in your employment contract in €

Working time / week in h


Net- sum  transferred to your bank account* in €


Required monthly net turnover (Total employment costs + Smart Fee) in €

M1

93


71

1


71


102

M2

131


100

1,5


100


144

M3

215


165

2,5


165


236

M4

280


215

3


215


308

M5

373


286

5


286


410

M6

467


358

6


358


513

M7

560


430

7


430


615

M8

587


450

8


450


645

M9

622


480

8


480


684

M10

685


520

8


520


745

M11

704


540

8


540


774

Employment categories

Social security contributions

If you are employed (for the duration of the employment contract), social security contributions and income tax will be deducted from your earnings and paid by the cooperative. Both the employer and employee contributions are paid by the member.

How much income per month is invested in an employment can be freely decided on the basis of employment categories. 
The social security contributions are made up as follows:

Public health insurance 14.6% plus additional contribution
Long-term care insurance 3.05 - 3.4%, with/ without child
Pension insurance 18.6%
Unemployment insurance 2.4%
Additional employer costs contributions variable between 0.5% and 3.5%
Income tax  progressive, depending on income

The basic tax-free allowance for income tax (Grundfreibetrag) changes every year and depends on your personal characteristics. Use the income tax calculator on the website of the Ministry of Finance to accurately calculate how much income tax you may need to pay.

Managing your employment

Managing your employment

View your employment and find documents

List of employments

In the list of employments you will see all your current and past employment contracts with Smart. 

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View of employment and documents

An employment can be opened from the employment list. The overview shows the start and end date of the employment, the employment category, the profession as given in the contract and the weekly working hours.

Your  current contract, your pay slips and all other relevant documents regarding this employment can be found under Documents. Please choose the correct category from the drop-down list.

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If you have several employments at Smart (e.g. at Smart eG and Smart Bildungswerk, or if you had a longer break between two jobs, you will find the relevant documents in the respective contract period in the list)

Employment contract

For legal reasons the employment contract is only available in German.

Addendum

After the Smart confirmation of your employment change, you can find and download your addendum in the portal:

Screenshot 2025-05-20 134028.png

You can upload the signed contract directly in the portal:

Screenshot 2025-05-20 134038.png


Pay slips

Payslips are official documents stating your income. Please find out more under Payroll.

Other

Managing your employment

Requesting changes

If you would like to make changes to your employment contract, you can do so by clicking on the "Request change" button in the employment detail view.

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Click the checkmark in front of the respective change type to enter the desired data. Finally, you must send the form to the Smart Team by clicking the "Send" button. If the change is approved, you will receive an updated payslip with the corresponding changes with the next monthly payslip. The payslip is considered delivered when it is uploaded to the portal. You can view the adjusted changes in your budget overview immediately after confirmation.

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You can make following requests:
Prolong employment contract or change end date

Choose the new end date and you will receive an addendum to your contract after confirmation by Smart.

Please always prolong your contract via the Portal BEFORE it's end date.

Change salary / employment category

Once you have selected the category, please write in the comment field, when you would like to introduce this change. Please note that changes for the next month are only possible until the last day of the previous month. 

You can find the employment categories here: Employment categories

Register a leave

Following interruptions in your employment are possible. Please remeber to submit a relevant proof.

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Add special payment

A special payment will be paid out with the next payroll, provided there is enough budget available.

If you choose the 'Sachbezug' benefit (e.g. Urban Sports membership or Jobticket), then please write in the comment from when the benefit should be settled.

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Request correction to a previous month

 

Managing your employment

Ending your employment

If you want to terminate your contract (for example, because there is no budget or you have another job), a formal notice of termination with the following details is required:

The original signed notice of termination can be sent to us by post plus e-mail or only by e-mail. The date of termination must be before the desired termination date.

Example: The employment contract runs until March 31. The employment contract is to be terminated in February. The notice of termination must be submitted two weeks before February 1. If your employment with Smart ends, you must ensure that you continue to have health insurance yourself. If you have any questions, you can of course contact us.

Don't have any new orders? Contact us, we will try to find an individual solution. For example, we can reduce your salary or offer you unpaid leave.

Do you still have budget left after payment of the last salary? Please let us know in time, if you want to get your total budget out till the end of your employment.

Terminating your employment contract does not mean terminating your membership with Smart. We recommend that you retain your membership of the cooperative so that you have the flexibility to resume your employment when you need to.