Grow successfully – with a healthy team

New employees bring a breath of fresh air to the company—but also more responsibility. With each additional team member, the organizational demands increase.

This article is part of the special feature GründerNavi – for founders and young companies

To ensure everything runs smoothly, employers should plan the registration of new employees well in advance . Volker Müller , Head of the Central Tasks Contributions Team at IKK classic , explains: "New employees subject to compulsory insurance must be registered with the social security institutions via an automated reporting process after their employment begins. This is done by notifying the respective health insurance fund of your employee. Every new employee can become a member of a new fund immediately . There are no waiting periods with the previous health insurance fund. It is important that the new employee contacts the new fund as soon as possible . Notification to the previous health insurance fund is not required – the new fund will handle this. Employers also pay the total insurance contribution to the responsible health insurance fund, which then forwards it accordingly. The Minijob Center is responsible for marginally employed individuals."

Strong partner for employers 

Photo: © IKK classic

Several factors play a role in payroll accounting. The general contribution rate for statutory health insurance in 2025 is 14,6 percent and is shared equally between employers and employees. In addition, there is an individual supplementary contribution from the respective health insurance fund , which is also financed equally by employers and employees.

Choosing a health insurance provider shouldn't be solely a matter of price – benefits, service quality, and industry expertise are also crucial. As a health insurance provider for tradespeople, IKK classic understands the specific needs of the skilled trades precisely : "We know where our customers' problems lie and tailor our benefits and services accordingly," says Volker Müller.

Health in the workplace – a win-win for everyone 

Satisfied and healthy employees are the key to a successful company. Employers can actively contribute to the health of their team – for example, through structured corporate health management (CHM). Good working conditions and appreciative leadership not only increase employee well-being but also improve productivity and work quality.

You might also be interested in:

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And the best part: Investing in employee health is financially supported. IKK classic assists companies with a bonus program and offers nationwide consulting services from experienced health managers. More information: https://www.ikk-classic.de/bgm

At a glance

Information and services

• Whether you need an overview of current calculation parameters or practical online calculators to quickly and easily determine payroll taxes and social security contributions that you need to consider when calculating salaries (salary planner, tax bracket selection, deadline, sliding scale, garnishment and contribution calculators) – employers can find everything important at a glance on the IKK classic website: ikk-classic.de/fk

Photo: © IKK classic

• Business owners can stay up-to-date on topics such as social security, workplace health, and management in the skilled trades with the free online seminars offered by IKK classic: ikk-classic.de/seminare

• Everything's taken care of. The IKK classic employer podcast – exclusively for the skilled trades. 30 minutes of background information and exciting insights into topics from social security, labor law, and health. Always on the last Wednesday of the month. Listen now at: ikk-classic.de/allesgeregelt

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checklist

✔️ Hand over the contract in good time: Employers are obligated to provide employees with written confirmation of their employment contract, containing all essential terms and conditions, no later than one month after the start of employment. For a smooth start, it is important to hand over the contract well before the commencement of work. This is particularly important for fixed-term contracts, as a fixed term can only be agreed upon before the actual commencement of employment.

✔️ Contents of the employment contract: The contract should include the names and addresses of the contracting parties, the place of work, and a brief description of the job duties. It should also specify the start date of employment, working hours, and the duration of annual leave. The amount and composition of the salary, payment dates, and information regarding notice periods must also be included in the employment contract.

✔️ Request your company registration number: When you hire employees, you must register your company with the Federal Employment Agency. You will then be assigned a company registration number, which you need to register your employees with social security.

✔️ Register social security contributions: You are still required to register your new employees subject to social security contributions with the relevant social security institutions (health, long-term care, pension, and unemployment insurance). This is done by notifying the health insurance funds responsible for your employees. The total social security contribution must also be paid to these funds and will be forwarded accordingly. The Minijob Center is responsible for marginally employed individuals.

✔️ Observe registration deadlines: Important: Social security contributions are mandatory starting on your new employee's first day of work. Register them immediately so they can receive their health insurance card and other necessary documents as soon as possible. Registration should generally be completed with the first payroll, but no later than six weeks after the start of employment.

Conclusion

New employees subject to compulsory insurance must be registered with the social security institutions in an automated reporting procedure after the start of their employment.

Employer must report all insurance-relevant data of their employees to the responsible health insurance funds.

Reports Applications for marginally employed persons must be submitted to the Minijob Center. Exception: employees in private households. The simplified household check procedure applies here.

On our website We explain step by step who is required to have insurance and what tasks the company has to fulfill: ikk-classic.de/sozialversicherung

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