Overtime and Break Laws in Austria (2026)
Working Hours Act (Arbeitszeitgesetz, AZG) · Reviewed 2026-10 · Private-sector employees
Overtime
Overtime past the normal 8 hours a day or 40 hours a week earns a 50% surcharge, or time off that includes the surcharge.
Breaks and lunch
When the working day is over 6 hours, at least a 30-minute break. It is not working time.
Overtime in Austria
- 1.5x pay for hours past 8 in a day.
- 1.5x pay for hours past 40 in a week.
- Overtime is any hour past the allowed weekly normal hours or past the daily normal hours under the agreed distribution of the week; collective agreements can allow up to 10 normal hours a day.
- Pay in money is the default unless the collective agreement, a works agreement or the contract chooses time off; time off must include the 50% surcharge (1.5 hours per overtime hour).
- Maximum 12 hours a day and 60 hours a week; average weekly hours may not exceed 48 over 17 weeks, with no more than 20 overtime hours in a week.
- Part-time staff get a 25% surcharge for extra hours above their agreed hours (Mehrarbeit), with exceptions if offset within the quarter.
- Collective agreements (Kollektivverträge) cover most workers and often set higher rates. The AZG does not apply to under-18s, public bodies' sovereign staff, farm workers and some other groups.
Averaging over a pay period: Allowed under collective agreements and flexitime arrangements; overtime averaging up to 48 hours over 17 weeks.
What two weeks of work come to
Worked out by the rule above (1.5x after 40h in a week, 1.5x after 8h in a day). Hours.
| Two weeks of | Regular | Overtime (1.5x) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 days of 8 hours, two weeks (80h) | 80 | 0 |
| 5 days of 10 hours, two weeks (100h) | 80 | 20 |
| 6 days of 9 hours, two weeks (108h) | 80 | 28 |
| 50 hours, then 30 hours (80h) | 70 | 10 |
Breaks and lunch in Austria
- Meal break: 1 × 30 minutes, unpaid, for shifts of 6 hours or more.
| Shift | Rest breaks | Meal break |
|---|---|---|
| 4 hours | None | None |
| 6 hours | None | 1 × 30 min, unpaid |
| 8 hours | None | 1 × 30 min, unpaid |
| 10 hours | None | 1 × 30 min, unpaid |
| 12 hours | None | 1 × 30 min, unpaid |
- The 30 minutes can be split into two 15-minute or three 10-minute breaks if in the employees' interest or needed for operational reasons; any part must be at least 10 minutes.
- Daily rest of at least 11 uninterrupted hours; a collective agreement can cut it to 8 hours with compensation within 10 days.
- Hospitality kitchen and service staff on split shifts can have daily rest cut to 8 hours.
Pay by Austria rules in Kloqk
Kloqk is a free time clock. In Settings, open Payroll, press Rules by country and pick Austria: the overtime and break rules above fill in, and every timesheet, report and payroll export follows them. Change any number to match your own contract.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the overtime rule in Austria?
Overtime past the normal 8 hours a day or 40 hours a week earns a 50% surcharge, or time off that includes the surcharge.
Can overtime be averaged over two weeks or a pay period in Austria?
Allowed under collective agreements and flexitime arrangements; overtime averaging up to 48 hours over 17 weeks.
What breaks are required in Austria?
When the working day is over 6 hours, at least a 30-minute break. It is not working time.