We know what you can ask your employer to do if you work on an Austrian contract.
Working overtime
Standard working hours in Austria are 40 hours per week. If it is exceeded, these hours fall into overtime. Overtime work shall always arise when an employee has worked a specified period of time resulting from an employment contract. This can be up to a maximum of 20 hours per week, with a statutory supplement of 50% for each hour of overtime worked (or 1.5 hours of credit per hour worked).
Weekend work
Men and women have the same right to work at weekends, except for pregnant and breastfeeding women and minors under 18. For work on Saturdays and Sundays there is a supplement of 100% of the basic salary.
Work at night
Men and women have the same right to work at night, except for pregnant and breastfeeding women and minors under 18 years of age. For night work there is a supplement of 50% of the basic wage.
Holidays
During the first six months, the employee shall be entitled to leave according to the duration of the employment relationship. For each month worked, the employee is entitled to 2 days of leave. From the second year onwards, he or she is entitled to a minimum of 5 weeks (30 working days) of full leave, and after 25 years’ service he or she is entitled to 6 weeks (36 working days). Disabled persons and minors are not entitled to more days of leave, unless a collective agreement or employment contract provides otherwise.
Minimum wage a 13. and 14th salary
The minimum wage in Austria is not fixed in law, but is regulated by collective agreements. They also provide for the payment of 13. and 14th salary, as well as other benefits. The 13th salary represents the Christmas bonus and the 14th salary in turn a holiday bonus. The amount itself is set according to the collective agreement in force. However, it will usually be at the level of one month’s salary, not lower than that specified in the collective agreement. If you have not worked the whole calendar year, 13. and your 14th salary will be paid in an aliquot amount depending on the number of months you have worked. You will become entitled after 5 months of service. You are entitled to double your monthly salary if you have worked a full year.
Sick leave (sick leave)
In the event of illness, occupational accident, occupational disease or the need for rest and recuperation, you are entitled to 100% of your wages and 50% thereafter. The length of payment depends on the length of your employment and the amount of your pay depends on your earnings in the last month before you fell ill. As an employee, you are obliged to inform your employer of your sick leave. If you fall ill for more than 3 days during your leave, this will not count towards your holiday entitlement. However, this must be reported to the employer and supported by a medical certificate.
| Duration of employment | Duration of payment of 100% of wages | Duration of payment of 50% of salary |
| 1 year | 6 weeks | 4 weeks |
| 2 – 15 years | 8 weeks | 4 weeks |
| 16 – 25 years old | 10 weeks | 4 weeks |
| 26 years and over | 12 weeks | 4 weeks |
Family allowances
You can apply for child benefit for 5 years from the month in which the Austrian tax office responsible for the child benefit receives the application. You can apply for family allowances up to 18. year of the child’s age, respectively. to his 24th. year of age, if he/she is a full-time student at university. A child’s parent, adoptive parent, stepparent or persons to whom carethe child is entrusted to.
The amount of family allowances varies depending on the age of the child:
- from birth – 120,61€
- from 3 years – 128,97€
- from 10 years – 149,70€
- from 19 years – 174,68€
Want to learn about all the benefits Austria offers parents? See our article that covers this topic in more detail.
Surcharges for public holidays
Men and women have the same right to work on public holidays, except for pregnant and breastfeeding women and minors under the age of 18. For work on public holidays, the supplement is 100% of the basic salary. In Austria, public holidays are:
- New Year – 1. January
- Three Kings – 6. January
- Easter Monday (movable holiday)
- Labour Day – 1. May
- Ascension of the Lord (movable holiday)
- Whit Monday (Pentecost) (movable feast)
- Corpus Christi (movable feast)
- Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary – 15. August
- National holiday – 26. October
- All Saints Day – 1. November
- Immaculate Conception – 8. December
- 1st Christmas Day – 25. December
- 2nd Christmas Day – 26. December
Maternity/parental allowance
The protection period for pregnant women begins 8 weeks before the expected birth of the child and ends 8 weeks after it, which represents 100% pay for 16 weeks. During this period, the woman is not allowed to work, but her employment continues and maternity allowance is paid in lieu of salary.
Parents are entitled to unpaid parental leave until the child is 2 years old. The minimum period of parental leave is 2 months. During this period, allowances may be drawn for carechildcare allowances. From 1. January 2010, parents whose children were born after 30. September 2009, they can choose from 5 types of contributions. One of the models is based on the amount of income. After the end of parental leave, the woman is protected from dismissal for the 4 weeks following the end of parental leave or the period after the end of parental leave.
Retirement
If you have paid your pension insurance in Austria for more than one year, you will be entitled to an Austrian pension. If you have had a pension for less than a year, the months you have paid will not be lost, but will be added to the months you have worked in your home country. By 2024, the legal retirement age for women will be 60. years, from 2033 it will be at 65. years. For men, the age does not change, the legal retirement age will always be at 65. years. You can read more about the pension here.
Nursing leave (NWL)
If you are caring for a family member living in your household, you may be granted leave while continuing to receive your salary, subject to certain conditions. Time off work on caregiving is granted for 1 week. In the case of children requiring care, an additional week per calendar year is possible if the child has not yet reached the age of twelve. A parent who does not live in the same household can also care for a sick child.
