Paid time off

Austria's paid time off entitlement is governed by statutory minimum vacation rules that increase with tenure. Employees are entitled to a minimum of 25 working days (5 weeks) of annual paid vacation during their first 25 years of employment. Upon completing 25 years of service with an employer, this entitlement increases to 30 working days (6 weeks) per year for the remainder of their employment.

These vacation days are calculated on a working-day basis, meaning weekends and public holidays are not counted toward the entitlement. The rules apply to all employees covered by Austrian labor law, regardless of employment sector or contract type, though collective agreements may provide more generous terms.

The legal framework for vacation entitlement is established under the Austrian Urlaubsgesetz (Vacation Act) and related provisions of the Austrian Labor Constitution Act (Arbeitsverfassungsgesetz). These regulations ensure minimum standards across the country and are enforced by labor authorities and works councils where applicable.

Employers must track employee tenure carefully to ensure correct vacation accrual and must grant vacation time in accordance with operational requirements while respecting employee preferences where feasible. Vacation days cannot generally be forfeited or carried over indefinitely; most must be taken within the calendar year or shortly thereafter, depending on collective agreement terms. Payroll teams should maintain detailed records of vacation taken and accrued to ensure compliance and to calculate any statutory compensation due upon termination of employment, as unused vacation typically must be paid out.