Würth introduces sixth week of vacation: A model for more appreciation!

Würth introduces sixth week of vacation: A model for more appreciation!

After years of hard work, a Carinthian was finally able to claim his rights. The employee, who had been working in a furniture store since April 2002, suffered a misfortune: when his employment was terminated by mutual agreement in September 2024, he was withheld the severance payment to which he was entitled of almost 32,700 euros (gross). However, thanks to the intervention of the Carinthian Chamber of Labor, this omission was finally recognized. AK labor law expert Verena Spath also found that the employee was deprived of the sixth week of vacation to which he was entitled due to his long service. “He would have been entitled to it as early as 2022,” explained Spath. Ultimately, the Carinthian received a total of around 34,500 euros for severance pay and holiday compensation, which shows that persistence pays off.

Sixth week of vacation as an incentive

In a different light, the Lower Austrian company “Würth” is now offering its employees a sixth week of vacation, which from this year applies to all employees who have been with the company for at least a year. Managing director Alfred Wurmbrand explains that this decision is also an appreciation of the staff and is intended to increase their well-being. This measure aims to continuously improve working conditions and increase productivity. Similar to the AK in Carinthia, which calls for the introduction of the sixth week of vacation for all employees after 25 years of service, Würth goes one step further and grants this after just one year of service, which is currently very unusual in Austria, as reported.

This development shows that companies in Austria are increasingly introducing measures to increase their attractiveness as employers. For example, the Linz-based software company “Team Echo” has already reduced working hours. More and more companies are recognizing the need to improve working conditions in order to combat the skills shortage and attract talented employees. The Würth company's new regulation could mark a turnaround in the industry and encourage other companies to consider similar steps to meet the needs of their employees and promote a good work-life balance, as Neue Zeit also reports.