Falling ill and needing time off work can be stressful, especially when you’re unsure of your rights and obligations.
In Austria, employees are entitled to sick leave, but there are important rules to follow to ensure you receive your salary or sick pay.
What to do when you get sick
The most important step when you fall ill is to inform your employer immediately, according to Austria’s Chamber of Labour (AK). This usually means calling your workplace before or at the start of your workday.
Failing to do so could result in lost wages for the time you were absent without notice.
After notifying your employer, you must visit a doctor and obtain a sick note. Your employer can request this certificate even if you are off for only a single day.
The document must confirm the start and expected duration of your illness, but it does not need to include your diagnosis. It's important to know that your employer is not entitled to know what illness you have—only that you are unfit for work.
Employers may request additional medical confirmations if your sick leave lasts for an extended period. If you do not provide the required documentation, your employer is legally allowed to withhold your salary until the proof is submitted.
Can you lose your job while on sick leave?
Yes. In Austria, employees can be dismissed while on sick leave. However, the employer must still follow the usual notice periods and legal procedures.
If an employer terminates an employee during sick leave, they are still required to continue paying sick pay if the employee has not yet exhausted their entitlement. This applies even if the termination is mutually agreed upon during the illness.
READ ALSO: What are the rules in Austria for being fired during sick leave?
How much do you receive?
During sick leave, employees continue to receive their full salary for a certain period, after which they receive partial sick pay. The duration depends on how long you have worked for your employer.
In the first year of employment, full salary is paid for six weeks, followed by four weeks at half pay. From the second to the fifteenth year, the full salary period extends to eight weeks, followed by four weeks at half pay. Employees who have worked between sixteen and twenty-five years receive ten weeks of full pay and four weeks at half pay. Those employed for over twenty-five years receive twelve weeks of full salary and four weeks at half pay.
Once the half-pay period begins, employees receive half sick pay from the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK). If the employer stops paying entirely, ÖGK takes over and provides full sick pay.
However, sick pay is not paid automatically.
You must apply for it through ÖGK, either in person, by email, or by post. Required documents include a sick note from your doctor (usually sent electronically), confirmation of employment and salary from your employer, a hospital stay confirmation if applicable, and your bank details for the transfer.
How long can you receive sick pay from ÖGK?
Sick pay is generally available for up to twenty-six weeks.
If you have had health insurance for at least six months in the previous twelve months, the period extends to fifty-two weeks. In special cases, it can be extended to seventy-eight weeks if there is a medical assessment showing that recovery is likely within that time.
If you become sick again within thirteen weeks of recovery, your previous sick leave is counted toward your total entitlement. However, if you have worked for at least one day in between, a new entitlement period may begin.
READ ALSO: EXPLAINED: What happens if you’re off sick for a long time in Austria
Restrictions while on sick leave
While on sick leave, you must avoid activities that could delay recovery. For example, if you have the flu, you should not be spending time outdoors unnecessarily.
However, if your illness is mental health-related, activities like walking may be beneficial and allowed.
If you need to change your place of residence during sick leave, you must notify ÖGK in advance. If you plan to leave Austria, you need explicit approval from the health insurance fund.
Who is not entitled to sick pay?
Certain groups are not eligible for sick pay, including co-insured dependents, apprentices without a salary, marginally employed workers without self-insurance, interns, nursing and midwifery students, pensioners, and recipients of childcare allowance.
Additionally, sick pay is not granted if the illness was caused by alcohol, drug use, self-harm, or involvement in a fight.
READ ALSO: Can you travel abroad or meet friends when on sick leave in Austria?
Holidays and taxes
Employees on long-term sick leave do not lose their holiday entitlement. Even if someone is ill for two years, they are still entitled to their annual leave for both years.
Sick pay is taxed differently than regular income. ÖGK initially withholds tax at a reduced rate, but at the end of the year, sick pay is taxed together with other income. This may result in additional tax payments if your total income exceeds the annual tax-free threshold, which is €14,517 in 2025.
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