Understanding Employee Leave Entitlements in Austria

As an international HR professional, I've observed that Austria offers one of Europe's most comprehensive leave frameworks. Navigating these regulations requires careful attention to both legal requirements and practical implementation.

Annual Leave Provisions in Austria

Employees in Austria are entitled to 5 weeks of paid annual leave per working year. For those on a 6-day workweek, this translates to 30 days, while 5-day workers receive 25 working days. A notable benefit emerges after 25 years of continuous service with the same employer, increasing entitlement to 6 weeks of paid leave.

During the first year of employment, leave accrues proportionally for the initial 6 months, with full entitlement available from the 7th month onward. From the second year, employees enjoy full leave rights from the beginning of the working year. Scheduling requires mutual agreement between employer and employee, with special provisions for illness during vacation periods.

Unused annual leave automatically carries over to the following year, provided it hasn't expired. Leave entitlements typically expire two years after the accrual year.

Maternity Leave Framework

Pregnant employees benefit from 8 weeks of prenatal leave followed by 8 weeks of postnatal leave. This extends to 12 weeks for multiple births, premature deliveries, or cesarean sections. During this protected period, employment continues with maternity benefits equivalent to the average earnings of the last 13 weeks before leave.

Both employees and employers have specific notification responsibilities. Employees must inform employers of pregnancy and expected due date, while employers must notify relevant labor authorities. SailGlobal's HR solutions can streamline these compliance requirements for international companies.

Parental Leave Options

Parents can take unpaid parental leave in blocks of at least 2 months each. When taken by one parent alone, leave can extend until the child reaches 22 months. However, when both parents share leave, the period can extend until the child's second birthday.

Notification timelines are critical: mothers must inform employers during maternity leave, while fathers have 8 weeks post-birth. Extensions require 3 months' advance notice.

Paternity Leave Entitlements

Working fathers are entitled to 1 month of unpaid paternity leave, available from the child's second day until maternity leave concludes. Special provisions apply when mothers are self-employed or unemployed, extending leave to 8-12 weeks depending on circumstances.

Sick Leave Regulations

Employees receive 6 weeks of paid sick leave annually, extending based on service length:

Years of Service	Paid Sick Leave
1-14 years	8 weeks annually
15-24 years	10 weeks annually
25+ years	12 weeks annually

Following paid sick leave, employees may qualify for additional support through social security systems, with benefits calculated based on previous earnings.

Public Holidays and Special Leave

Austria observes 13 national holidays in 2025. Employees receive paid time off for these dates, with special provisions for required holiday work. Additionally, employees can designate one personal holiday annually with three months' advance notice.

Holiday	Date
New Year's Day	January 1
Epiphany	January 6
Easter Monday	April 21
Labour Day	May 1
Ascension Day	May 29
Whit Monday	June 8
Corpus Christi	June 19
Assumption Day	August 15
National Day	October 26
All Saints' Day	November 1
Immaculate Conception	December 8
Christmas Day	December 25
St. Stephen's Day	December 26

Additional Leave Categories

Austrian law provides several specialized leave types:

Family care leave for ill children or relatives
End-of-life companion leave
Child rehabilitation leave (4 weeks annually per child under 14)
Educational leave for training programs
Military service leave

Proper management of these diverse leave types requires sophisticated HR systems. SailGlobal offers comprehensive solutions to ensure compliance while maintaining operational efficiency.

Austria Employee Leave Guide: Annual, Parental & Sick Leave Regulations