Kollektivvertrag (KV) — the collective agreement
Almost all hospitality roles in Austria fall under a Kollektivvertrag — a sector-wide collective agreement negotiated between employer associations and trade unions. The KV sets minimum wages, maximum hours, overtime rules and holiday entitlements. Your contract cannot pay less than the KV minimum. The hospitality KV is updated annually, usually in December.
Bruttolohn vs. Nettolohn
Your contract will state a Bruttolohn (gross salary). After deductions for income tax (Lohnsteuer), social insurance (around 18% employee contribution), and housing (if deducted), your Nettolohn (net salary) will be roughly 65–75% of gross for most hospitality salaries. Housing deductions are capped and must appear clearly in your contract.
Working hours
The maximum regular working week is 40 hours, with 8 hours per day. Overtime starts at hour 41 (weekly) or hour 9 (daily) and is paid at 150% of your hourly rate. Shift work is common; you are entitled to at least 11 consecutive hours of rest between shifts.
Paid leave
You are entitled to 5 weeks (25 days) of paid annual leave after your first year. In your first year, leave is proportional to months worked. Public holidays are paid separately. Sick leave: notify your employer immediately and provide a doctor's note within three days.
What to check before you sign
1. The Bruttolohn must be at or above the KV minimum for your position. 2. Housing deduction (if any) should specify the exact amount. 3. The contract should state your working location. 4. Trial period (Probezeit) is usually one month. 5. Check both your notice period and the employer's notice period (Kündigungsfrist).