Can employees work on public holidays in Austria?

In Austria, employees are generally entitled to take public holidays off without loss of pay. However, there are circumstances under which employees might be required to work on public holidays. Here’s how it works:


  1. Mandatory Time Off: Employees are entitled to public holidays off with pay. If a public holiday falls on a regular working day, employees should not be required to work unless it is absolutely necessary due to business needs.

  2. Compensation for Working on Public Holidays:

    • If employees are required to work on a public holiday, they are entitled to additional compensation.
    • Compensation Rate: Typically, employees receive 200% of their regular salary for the hours worked on a public holiday.
    • Alternatively, they may be entitled to 2 hours of paid time off for each hour worked on a public holiday.

  3. Alternative Arrangements: In some cases, employers may offer alternative compensation or additional time off in lieu instead of cash payment. This should be clearly outlined in the employment contract or company policy.

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