Notice period

# Notice Period in Austria

Austria's notice period for employment termination is governed by the Angestelltengesetz (Salaried Employees Act), Article 1, Section 20. The notice period begins at six weeks and extends based on length of service, reaching a maximum of five months after 25 years of employment.

Under Austrian law, the notice period structure operates as follows: employees and employers must observe a six-week notice period during the probationary phase and initial employment period. After completion of two years of service, the notice period extends to two months. Following five years of service, it increases to three months. At the fifteen-year mark, the notice period becomes four months, and after twenty-five years of service, it reaches five months. These periods apply to both employer-initiated and employee-initiated terminations, though collective agreements may provide more favorable terms for employees.

The Angestelltengesetz, consolidated under Austrian federal law (Bundesrecht konsolidiert) and accessible through the RIS (Rechtsinformationssystem), establishes these notice periods as statutory minimums. The law has remained stable in its core provisions, with no recent material changes to the notice period framework.

Employers and payroll teams operating in Austria must track employee tenure carefully to ensure compliance with the correct notice period at each service milestone. Termination notices must be submitted in writing and must respect the applicable notice period based on the employee's length of service at the time of notice. Failure to observe the statutory notice period renders a termination invalid. Organizations should maintain detailed employment records documenting service commencement dates to calculate notice periods accurately and avoid legal disputes.