In Austria, parental leave is unpaid. However, supported employees who earn less than a specified annual salary may qualify for a child care allowance provided by the government.
Employees in Austria must send their paternity leave request at least 3 months before the due date.
Maternity leave in Austria typically lasts for 16 weeks, divided into:
In cases of cesarean sections or multiple births, the post-birth leave extends to at least 12 weeks. If the pre-birth leave was shortened, the post-birth leave may be extended to compensate, up to a maximum of 16 weeks.
During this period, the employee receives maternity pay from the social insurance system, equal to 100% of their average earnings from the last 13 weeks of employment.
After maternity leave, employees are entitled to take parental leave. If the employee gives birth, she is statutorily entitled to request further unpaid parental leave (alternating between parents if they so choose) until the end of the second year of the child’s life, provided she lives with the child in a joint household and complies with the relevant notification requirements.
In Austria, there are no specific restrictions on eligibility for maternity leave. However, pregnant employees must present a maternity protection certificate to their employer to confirm both their eligibility for maternity leave and the maternity protection period.
In Austria, maternity leave is fully paid. During the 16 weeks of maternity leave, the employee may be entitled to receive maternity benefits, known locally as “Wochengeld,” from governmental institutions.
To apply for maternity leave in Austria, a supported employee must follow these steps:
Fathers in Austria who have worked for their employers for at least 26 weeks are eligible for paternity leave lasting between 28 and 31 days.
Paternity leave in Austria of up to 1 month is generally unpaid. However, supported employees may receive an allowance from their health insurance provider during this period.
Parental leave in Austria must be requested before the end of the 8th week after the birth of the child.