Teachers Increasingly Opt for Time Off Over Overtime Pay, Data Shows

Financial and Operational Impact

While the system has grown in popularity, direct payouts for overtime have decreased. In the latest reporting period, payouts amounted to 4,700 weekly work units—down from the previous year but still higher than the five-year average of around 3,100 units. At federal schools, over 7,100 teachers currently maintain time-off accounts, representing a quarter of eligible staff. Collectively, these accounts hold nearly 777,000 weekly work units, up from 527,000 units five years ago.

Kimberger downplayed concerns that the trend could exacerbate teacher shortages, noting that Austria’s school system, with its 128,000 educators, is a "Riesenbetrieb" ("giant operation"). However, the shift has been more pronounced at federal schools, while primary and secondary schools have seen slower adoption, partly due to staffing shortages post-pandemic.

Policy Changes and Future Outlook

The time-off account system was introduced in 2009 under then-Education Minister Claudia Schmied (SPÖ) amid debates over increasing teaching hours. However, the model was discontinued under the new employment contract enacted in 2013, which became mandatory for all new hires starting in 2018/19.

Despite its phase-out, the legacy system continues to influence current practices, particularly among veteran teachers. In the regional school sector, time-off accumulations have more than doubled over five years, from 124 full-time equivalents to 284.