Adrian MM. Dec 18, 2020:

@ Björn - Abmahnung always written in LIE your refs are Germano-centric: https://www.liechtensteinjobs.li/ratgeber/arbeit/muss-eine-a...

Björn Vrooman Dec 18, 2020:

@Adrian Yes, an Ermahnung can be verbal--but that is also true for an Abmahnung:
https://www.ra-skwar.de/arbeitsrecht kuendigung.htm#1
https://www.arbeitsrechte.de/muendliche-abmahnung/

I'm not totally sold on formal vs. informal, though it's better than reprimand vs. warning because "an employee warning letter is also known as a written warning, letter of reprimand, disciplinary form, and warning notice," so that is no help [https://www.upcounsel.com/employee-behavior-warning-letter]; I think you need to focus on "final" (which you have, as I had indirectly said below). Plus, even a verbal one should be documented (see first ENS link I posted). We could take out "written" if you want.

Though please keep in mind that it says "Formulierung des Schreibens," i.e., in this particular context, we are definitely talking about a written warning.

Best

Adrian MM. Dec 18, 2020:

@ Björn - Ermahnung can be verbal > mündlich ... so oral or written. I didn't insert these variations after informal lest the answer became open to criticism as 'too long'.

Obiter, I know as a past clerk from my Hamburg law office that our Bürovorsteher - paradoxically from Dachau - received a 'tongue-lashing' Ermahnung a couple of times from Big Boss: a Patentfachanwältin who had been born 'Helene Fischer'.

Björn Vrooman Dec 18, 2020:

Hello Tatijana If you read this https://www.hensche.de/Rechtsanwalt_Arbeitsrecht_Handbuch_Ab...

and compare it to progressive discipline policies, such as
https://hr.vanderbilt.edu/policies/progressive-discipline.ph...

the choice here is between "written warning" and "final written warning," as some have already suggested in one way or another.

Same on this UK page: https://croner.co.uk/resources/disciplinary-grievances/writt...

It's not just verbal and suspension isn't part of it either, IMO.

Best wishes

Tatijana Kostovska (asker) Dec 17, 2020:

hello and thank you your support. this is an attorney letter to a company supporting his client (the employee of this company) who received a warning for an alleged incident.

philgoddard Dec 17, 2020:

Could you tell us what this is about and give us a few paragraphs of German context, please.