Notice period

Notice Period in Austria

Austria's statutory notice period for employment termination is governed by the Angestelltengesetz (Salaried Employees Act), Article 1, Section 20. The current notice period is six weeks, which extends to two months (60 days) after an employee completes two years of service.

This rule applies to the termination of employment contracts by either the employer or the employee. During the initial two years of employment, either party may terminate the contract with six weeks' notice to the end of a calendar month. Once an employee has completed two full years of service, the notice period lengthens to two months, also terminating at the end of a calendar month. This graduated structure protects employees by providing greater job security as tenure increases, while allowing employers reasonable time to plan workforce transitions.

The notice period requirement is mandatory and applies across most employment relationships in Austria, though certain exceptions exist for specific sectors or collective bargaining agreements that may provide longer notice periods. The rule is codified in the consolidated federal legislation maintained by the Austrian Legal Information System (RIS).

Employers and payroll teams must track employee start dates carefully to determine which notice period applies at any given time. When processing terminations, they must ensure notices are submitted in writing and calculate the notice period correctly from the date of receipt, accounting for the calendar month-end requirement. Failure to observe statutory notice periods can render a termination invalid, potentially exposing employers to claims for wrongful dismissal or continued employment obligations.