Salary
Continued Payment of Wages During Sickness in Austria: What Employees Need to Know
- Illness
- Continued Payment of Wages
- Employee Rights
- Austria
- Length of Service
In Austria, employees are entitled to continued payment of wages during illness, the amount and duration of which depend on the length of service.
Entitlement to Continued Wage Payment: Duration and Differences
In Austria, continued wage payment in case of illness is regulated by law. The duration and amount of entitlement vary according to the length of employment. The aim of this regulation is to provide financial security to employees during an illness.
For employment of up to one year, full wages are due for six weeks, followed by four weeks at half pay. With longer employment, this entitlement gradually increases to up to twelve weeks of full pay after 25 years of service.
Special Regulations for Workplace Accidents and Occupational Diseases
In addition to the general illness regulations, there are special entitlements for workplace accidents or occupational diseases. Here, employees are entitled to eight weeks of full pay. This entitlement increases to ten weeks after 15 years of uninterrupted service.
These special regulations highlight the importance of occupational health and safety and the recognition by the legislator that such illnesses require different treatment.
Obligations of Employees and Proof Deadlines
Employees are legally required to inform the employer immediately about their inability to work. A medical certificate can be required from the first day of illness, but many collective agreements stipulate an obligation to present it only from the fourth day.
This regulation allows employers to quickly verify the illness while granting employees some flexibility for short-term illnesses.
After Continued Wage Payment: Entitlement to Sickness Benefits
After the continued wage payment period expires, employees have the option to receive sickness benefits from the Austrian Health Insurance Fund. However, this must be applied for by the employee themselves.
Sickness benefits are an important safeguard that eases the financial transition from continued wage payment to long-term sickness absence.
Frequently Asked Questions
The duration of full wages depends on the length of employment and ranges from six to twelve weeks.
Yes, for workplace accidents, there are entitlements to full pay for eight to ten weeks.
Yes, this is legally possible, but collective agreements often stipulate otherwise.
After continued wage payment, sickness benefits can be applied for at the Austrian Health Insurance Fund.
This post was AI-assisted and editorially reviewed.
Sources
This article provides an overview to the best of our knowledge (as of July 2026) and does not replace legal advice. Binding information on labor law and collective agreements is provided by the Chamber of Labor and the relevant union.
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