Working Hours and Overtime in Austria

What Are the Standard Working Hours In Austria?

An employee whose age is 18 or older is allowed to work 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week. An employee whose age is under 18 is subject to stricter working hour limitations under youth protection laws. A minimum meal interval of 30 minutes must be observed by employees who work more than 6 hours in a day. In typical working hours, Monday through Friday, the hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, though this can vary by company and industry.

Maximum Working Hours in Austria

Austria has clear limits on how long employees can work. The legal cap on daily working hours is 12 hours, while weekly working hours cannot exceed 60 hours. However, it's important to note that over a 17-week period, the average weekly working time must not exceed 48 hours.

Overtime is allowed under certain conditions, but employees have the right to refuse overtime that would exceed 10 hours per day or 50 hours in a given week. This provides important protections for work-life balance while still allowing flexibility when needed.

Industry Specific Exceptions

Some industries in Austria operate under different working hour regulations due to their unique operational requirements.

The healthcare sector is a prime example, where staff can work up to 13 hours daily and 60 hours weekly, with special extended service periods for nursing and medical staff. This recognizes the 24/7 nature of healthcare provision.

The transportation industry also has specific regulations designed to prevent driver fatigue, with detailed calculations for driving time, breaks, and total working hours. These exceptions ensure both operational efficiency and safety in these specialized fields.

Managerial and Exempt Employees

In Austria, managerial employees and those in positions of significant responsibility may have different working hour arrangements. While the law doesn't completely exempt managers from working time regulations, there's often more flexibility in how their hours are structured.

Managerial employees are typically defined as those who have substantial decision-making authority, lead teams, or hold positions of special trust within the organization. Since September 2018, the exemption from maximum working hours and mandatory rest periods has been extended to include not only executive employees but also employees "having significant independent decision-making authority" as well as "close relatives of the employer". While they're still subject to the fundamental protections regarding maximum working hours, the application of these rules may be more flexible, particularly regarding overtime compensation and work scheduling.

Statutory Full-Time Working Hours in Austria

The statutory definition of full-time employment in Austria is 40 hours per week, typically spread across five working days. However, many collective agreements have negotiated shorter weekly working hours, such as 38.5 hours in various industries.

These statutory hours serve as the baseline across industries, though the actual implementation can vary by sector, company policies, and collective bargaining agreements. Some companies may also implement a 4-day work week with 10-hour days under certain conditions, providing employees with greater flexibility while maintaining full-time status.

Overtime Regulations in Austria

What Counts As Overtime in Austria?

In Austria, overtime is any work performed beyond the standard 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week. However, if your employment contract or applicable collective agreement specifies shorter normal working hours (such as 38 hours in some industries), then overtime begins once you exceed those hours.

Flexible working arrangements may modify when overtime begins, but the principle remains that work beyond your contractually agreed hours constitutes overtime and must be compensated accordingly.

Maximum Overtime In Austria

Austrian law permits up to 20 hours of overtime per week, but this is subject to important limitations. The total working time (regular hours plus overtime) cannot exceed 12 hours per day or 60 hours per week. Additionally, over a 17-week reference period, average weekly working time must not exceed 48 hours.

Employers who violate these limits may face administrative penalties, which can include fines. Repeated or serious violations can result in increased penalties and potential labor authority interventions. These enforcement mechanisms help ensure compliance with working hour protections.

Overtime Payout Rates In Austria

Overtime compensation in Austria is generous by international standards. Employees are entitled to a mandatory 50% bonus for overtime hours worked. This means for each overtime hour, you receive your regular hourly rate plus an additional 50% premium.

Employers can provide this compensation in two ways: either through monetary payment with the 50% premium, or through time off in lieu, where 1.5 hours of paid time off is credited for each overtime hour worked. The specific method of compensation is typically outlined in employment contracts or collective agreements.

Weekend work and public holiday work often carry higher premiums, though these specifics are typically determined by collective agreements rather than statutory law.

Rest Periods and Breaks In Austria

Austria's labor laws include strong protections for employee rest periods and breaks, recognizing their importance for health, safety, and productivity.

Employees working more than 6 hours in a day must receive a minimum 30-minute break. This break is unpaid and not counted as working time. For flexibility, this break can be split into multiple shorter breaks, provided each is at least 10 minutes long.

Between workdays, employees are entitled to a minimum of 11 hours of uninterrupted rest. This ensures adequate recovery time before the next workday begins. Additionally, Austrian law mandates a 36-hour weekend rest period, typically from Saturday 1 PM through Sunday.

For employees who must work during regular rest periods, compensatory rest must be provided. Special provisions may apply to certain industries with continuous operations, but the principle of ensuring adequate rest remains.

Employers are responsible for tracking working hours and ensuring compliance with these rest period regulations. This includes maintaining records that can be inspected by labor authorities if necessary.

Night Shifts and Weekend Regulations

Night work and weekend work in Austria are subject to special regulations that recognize the additional burden these schedules place on employees.

Night work in Austria is typically defined as work performed between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM, though specific definitions may vary by industry or collective agreement. Employees who regularly work night shifts are entitled to additional protections, including regular health assessments and, in some cases, transfer to day work if health issues arise.

Weekend work, particularly on Sundays and public holidays, is generally restricted except in industries with essential continuous operations (such as healthcare, hospitality, and transportation). When employees do work during these times, they're typically entitled to premium pay and/or compensatory time off.

Many collective agreements provide for night shift allowances or weekend premiums beyond the statutory requirements. These can include percentage-based pay increases, flat-rate allowances, or additional time off. The specific benefits vary widely by industry and collective agreement.

How Playroll Simplifies Employer Responsibilities and Compliance

Expanding your workforce across international borders is an exciting step, but it can be challenging to keep up with ever-changing local labor laws and regulations in different countries. That's the advantage of using an Employer of Record like Playroll:

       
• Scale your global team: Legally hire and swiftly onboard new hires in 185+ regions without the red tape by offloading the HR admin to Playroll, so you can freely explore new markets and focus on growth.
       
• Stay compliant: Our built-in compliance checks, vetted contracts, and continuous monitoring of regulatory changes mean your agreements will always meet all legal requirements for working hours, overtime regulations, and more.
       
• Pay your team accurately: Ensure your international employees and global contractors are paid on time, every time, and set up centralized global payroll processes.