More than 20,000 people supported the demand that all employees in Austria receive six weeks of paid annual leave.

The campaign reached that number of signatures much earlier than the organizers expected. The source of the information is the Austrian Trade Union Federation ÖGB, which published the campaign results in its press release.

Employees in Austria currently generally have the right to five weeks of annual leave, which is 25 days for those who work five days a week. According to official information from the Austrian state, the right to six weeks is generally acquired after more than 25 years of work with the same employer. ÖGB wants all employees to receive the sixth week, regardless of age, occupation, working hours, and years spent in the company.

Why is more leave being requested?

The union claims that work has become more demanding for many due to a greater workload, constant availability, and more difficult balancing of work and family obligations. An additional week of leave would give employees more time for recovery, family, and private life. It could also help reduce long-term stress, but its actual effect would depend on the occupation, working conditions, and the way the job is organized.

ÖGB emphasizes that the legal minimum of five weeks has not changed since 1983. However, a comparison between the situation then and now is not entirely equal because jobs, technology, working hours, and employee habits have changed in the meantime. Nor do 20,000 signatures represent the opinion of all workers in Austria because the campaign is not a representative survey, but it shows that the demand has significant support.

More leave also brings additional costs

For employees, the additional week would mean more time to rest and easier balancing of private and professional life. It could help employers attract and retain workers, especially in occupations where there is a shortage of people. On the other hand, companies would have to organize replacements and cover additional absences, which could be particularly demanding for smaller employers and sectors that already have a labor shortage.

The collected signatures alone will not change the law, but they increase political pressure for the proposal to be discussed more seriously. The final decision will depend on Austrian politics, employers, and unions, as well as on whether additional leave can be introduced without major problems for business operations. The debate therefore will not be conducted only about whether people need more leave, but also about who will bear the costs of such a change.