Honor for Dr. Anna Eisele: KLIEMT Prize for innovative dissertation!

Honor for Dr. Anna Eisele: KLIEMT Prize for innovative dissertation!

Dr. Anna Eisele was awarded the KLIEMT Dissertation Prize 2024 on October 6, 2025. The award ceremony took place as part of a celebratory event at which Dr. Alexander Ulrich, partner at KLIEMT.Arbeitsrecht in Düsseldorf, gave the laudatory speech. Her dissertation is entitled: “The switch to pure contribution commitments – an opportunity to further spread company pension provision through the new social partner model” and was published by Duncker and Humblot.

The pure contribution commitment, which has existed in company pension schemes (bAV) since January 1, 2018, represents a change in the design of pension contracts. This new form of commitment does not guarantee employees any specific pension benefits; Instead, the level of benefits and their development depend largely on the conditions on the capital market. Eiselee's dissertation examines in detail how existing "old" pension systems can be converted to this new form of occupational pension.

Challenges and recommendations for action

Although the legal idea behind the introduction of pure contribution commitments is intended to overcome the barriers to occupational pensions and promote their spread, it is often referred to as a “slow seller”. Many employers struggle with legacy systems, which makes introducing the new system much more difficult. In her research, Eisele develops standards for checking the legality of a change from old commitments to pure contribution commitments and develops practical recommendations for implementation.

In addition to the theoretical investigation, the dissertation examines the question of what legal framework conditions must be in place. According to the regulations of the Company Pension Act (BetrAVG), pure contribution commitments are only permitted if they are regulated by a collective agreement or company/service agreement. Employers are therefore obliged to close gaps in care in the chosen implementation method, which leads to an increased risk for employees, especially in a “pay and forget” model.

Academic background

Anna Eisele studied law at the Bucerius Law School in Hamburg and at the Singapore Management University, with a focus on labor law. After her first state examination, she worked as a research assistant in a specialized law firm and at the University of Hamburg. She completed her doctorate at Bucerius Law School in February 2024.

She is currently completing her legal clerkship at the Munich Higher Regional Court, where she is gaining practical experience in two law firms specializing in employment law. The award ceremony was accompanied by a guest lecture by Dr. Anno Hamacher, judge at the Federal Labor Court, about “Erfurter Allerlei” and cases relating to fixed-term employment law, which resulted in a subsequent intensive discussion about the topics covered.

The academic and practical discussion makes it clear that pure contribution commitments open up potential for a broader use of company pension schemes if hurdles are adequately addressed. The ongoing developments in the area of ​​pension provision therefore require interdisciplinary exchange and innovative solutions, as Eisele shows in her dissertation.

For further information on the options for company pension schemes and the specific regulations for pure contribution commitments, visit the website Haufe or the Technicians' Health Insurance.