Can I resign from my job in Austria?
Yes — you may resign. Salaried employees resign with a statutory notice of 1 month to the end of a calendar month (§ 20 AngG), unless otherwise agreed. The period can be extended by agreement up to 6 months, but may never be longer than the employer's. For manual workers the period follows the collective agreement. Best resign in writing for proof. For good cause (e.g. unpaid wages, danger to health) an immediate exit under § 26 AngG is also possible. In short: yes, with 1 month's notice — but not overnight outside probation or good cause.
📋 The rules
- Salaried: 1 month to month-end
- Extendable by agreement up to 6 months
- Never longer than the employer's period
- Workers: period from the collective agreement
- Good cause: immediate exit (§ 26 AngG)
🔓 Exceptions
- Fixed-term: usually no early ordinary termination
- Probation (max 1 month): anytime without notice
- A justified exit preserves claims (e.g. old severance)
⚠️ Penalties & fines
There's no state fine, but an unjustified early walk-out (leaving without good cause) can make you liable for damages to the employer — as compensation for the notice period. Beware a myth: "I can quit from one day to the next" is false — outside probation or a justified exit you must keep the statutory or contractual notice (for salaried staff, 1 month to month-end), or risk owing compensation. Tip: hand in the resignation in writing and have receipt confirmed.
📎 Official sources
- Chamber of Labour · resignation by the employee →
- oesterreich.gv.at · termination →
- WKO · notice periods →
❓ Frequently asked
What notice do I give if I resign?
As a salaried employee you resign with a statutory notice of one month to the end of a calendar month, unless otherwise agreed. This period can be extended by agreement up to six months, but may never be longer than the employer's notice period.
Do the same periods apply to manual workers?
For manual workers the notice period follows the applicable collective agreement. Since the 2021 harmonisation many are aligned to the salaried-staff rules, but the collective agreement governs. So check your collective agreement for the specific period.
Can I exit without notice?
For good cause yes. If, for example, wages are unpaid or your health is endangered, you can exit immediately under § 26 AngG. Such a justified exit preserves your claims, for example to outstanding pay and, where applicable, old severance.
What happens with an unjustified exit?
If you leave the job without good cause and without keeping the notice, that's an unjustified early exit. The employer can then claim damages amounting to compensation for the duration of the notice period. That can become expensive.
Must I resign in writing?
Legally, no particular form is usually required for employees, unless the contract or collective agreement requires it. Even so, you should always resign in writing and have receipt confirmed, so you can prove the time of the resignation.
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