How long is sick leave in Austria?

In Austria, sick leave is structured based on the employee’s tenure with the company as follows:

• Employees with less than 1 year of service: Up to 6 weeks of full pay and 4 weeks of half pay.
• Employees with more than 1 year of service: Up to 8 weeks of full pay and 4 weeks of half pay.
• Employees with more than 15 years of service: Up to 10 weeks of full pay and 4 weeks of half pay.
• Employees with more than 25 years of service: Up to 12 weeks of full pay and 4 weeks of half pay.

Furthermore, employees are entitled to leave with continued payment for certain personal reasons that prevent them from working through no fault of their own. This includes time necessary for doctor's appointments. Employees are required to provide reasonable advance notice for such leave and prove the occurrence of the respective events if demanded.

What are the eligibility rules for sick leave in Austria?

In Austria, the eligibility rules for sick leave are as follows:

• During the first year of employment, an employee is entitled to 6 weeks of full sick pay and 4 weeks of half sick pay. This entitlement increases with the length of service.
• If an employee experiences repeated absences due to sickness within the same working year, they are entitled to sick leave only until their entitlement period is exhausted.
• In cases of inability to work due to occupational accidents or diseases, employees retain their sick leave entitlement of up to 8 weeks of full sick pay per case, irrespective of other incapacity periods. This entitlement increases to 10 weeks after 15 years of service.

Notification requirements include:

• An employee must immediately notify their employer of any inability to work.
• Upon the employer's request, the employee must provide confirmation from a competent health insurance institution or a physician regarding the cause and duration of the inability to work. Failure to meet these notification and documentation obligations can result in a loss of sick pay for the duration of the default.
• While a medical certificate is not automatically required, it is advisable to include a provision in the employment agreement that mandates submission of a medical certificate within a specified period, such as 3 days, when requested by the employer.

How is sick leave payment calculated in Austria?

If a supported employee is sick for a duration exceeding the specified timeframes, they may become eligible for statutory sick pay. This payment is provided by the health insurance system in Austria and is partial. The statutory sick pay is available for a maximum period of 52 weeks.

What is the process for applying for sick leave in Austria?

In Austria, the process for applying for sick leave involves the following steps:

• The supported employee must notify Velocity Global Austria's HR department and the customer immediately of their inability to work.
• If the supported employee is unable to work due to illness, a medical certificate indicating their incapacity to work must be submitted from the 3rd working day of absence.
• The medical certificate should be provided to both the customer and Velocity Global Austria without the need for a specific request.