Public holidays

Austria recognizes 13 statutory public holidays during which work is generally prohibited. These holidays are New Year's Day, Epiphany, Easter Monday, Labour Day, Ascension Day, Corpus Christi, Assumption Day, National Day, All Saints' Day, Immaculate Conception, Christmas Day, and Saint Stephen's Day. Additionally, Whit Monday is observed as a public holiday. On these days, employers must not require employees to work unless specific exemptions apply under Austrian labour law.

The regulation governing public holidays in Austria is established under the Feiertagsruhe (public holiday rest) provisions, which fall under Austrian employment and labour law. The Arbeiterkammer (Austrian Workers' Compensation Board) provides authoritative guidance on the application and scope of these holidays.

Austria's public holiday framework ensures that employees receive paid time off on these designated days. The list of 13 statutory holidays reflects Austria's cultural, religious, and national observances. Most of these holidays are fixed-date observances, though Easter-dependent holidays such as Easter Monday, Ascension Day, Corpus Christi, and Whit Monday vary annually based on the Easter calendar.

Employers and payroll teams must ensure that employees are not scheduled for work on these public holidays unless they operate in sectors with statutory exemptions, such as healthcare, hospitality, or emergency services. When work is performed on a public holiday, employees are typically entitled to additional compensation or compensatory time off. Payroll systems must accurately track public holiday entitlements and ensure correct wage calculations, particularly for employees working across multiple Austrian states or in industries with special regulations.