Sick leave

In Austria, sick leave entitlements are governed by the Austrian Labour Code (Arbeitsgesetzbuch) and collective bargaining agreements. When an employee becomes ill and is unable to work, the employer must continue to pay their regular wage during the absence, provided the employee submits a medical certificate (Krankenstandsbestätigung) if the absence exceeds three calendar days.

The duration of continued wage payment during sick leave is six weeks per calendar year. This means an employer must pay an employee's full ordinary wage for up to 42 consecutive calendar days of illness within a twelve-month period. After six weeks of continuous illness, the employee may become eligible for sickness benefits from the Austrian social insurance system (Krankengeld), which typically provides a lower replacement income.

The relevant legal framework is established in the Austrian Labour Code and is further detailed in various collective agreements that may provide more generous terms depending on the industry or sector. The Federal Ministry of Labour, Family and Youth oversees employment law enforcement in Austria.

Employers and payroll teams must maintain accurate records of sick leave absences and ensure medical certificates are collected when required. They should calculate the six-week entitlement on a calendar-year basis and track cumulative sick days to determine when the employer's wage payment obligation ends and social insurance benefits commence. Payroll systems must be configured to process continued wage payments correctly during qualifying sick leave periods and to transition employees to social insurance benefits once the six-week threshold is reached.