In employment lawsuits introducing new reasons for a dismissal is daily business. However, the legal situation is highly controversial when a member of the works council or a disabled employee is dismissed. In both cases a dismissal requires a preceding special approval procedure. Based on the particularities of the internal approval procedure subject to sec. 103 German Works Constitution Act (BetrVG) on the one hand, and the public approval procedure in accordance with sec. 85 ff. Book IX of the German Social Code (SGB IX) on the other hand, the author provides an analysis of the legal possibilities to introduce new reasons for a dismissal in a usable way during different stages of the approval procedure and within the dismissal protection proceedings at the labour court. Hereby the author benefits from her long-term judicial experience.