They are still a thing, though I don't know how common. My own experience on leaving a big company fairly recently was they were available if you wanted one, a

They are still a thing, though I don't know how common. My own experience on leaving a big company fairly recently was they were available if you wanted one, and you were expected to write your own and submit it for approval, in German and/or English at your discretion. I didn't bother, but if my future plans had included being an employee at a big company in Germany I definitely would have done so.