Working hours in service

The question that concerns many prospective restaurant specialists is the actual working hours. We take a look at the facts and provide you with comprehensive information!

If you are looking for variety in your professional life and a boring 9-to-5 job is absolutely not for you, then service is the right place for you. Because: Your working hours are usually organized in shifts, which you divide up with your colleagues. Breakfast service, lunch service, evening service, bar service ... your working day can look different every day - variety guaranteed!

Saturdays, Sundays and various public holidays are normal working days in the catering industry. After all, your guests are visiting you when they have time off or are on vacation. You then use up your days off during the week. The advantage for you: If you're out and about on your days off, you won't have to queue in the wellness area and you'll avoid overcrowded hotels and leisure facilities.

if you do want to have a weekend or public holiday off, there is always an option - the keyword is swapping shifts. What's more, more and more companies also have fixed rest days - sometimes at weekends. Find out from your future employer how weekend shifts are organized in the company.

The duty roster is generally posted or agreed at least two weeks in advance so that you can organize your hobbies, time with friends and family and your rest days well in advance.

You will see: Good cooperation with colleagues plays a major role in the service area. If a planned shift is unfavorable for you, for example, or you want to go up a mountain in the morning or relax in the wellness area, just ask the team. There is usually always someone you can swap shifts with! As everywhere in the hotel and catering industry, the same applies here: Teamwork makes the dream work!

In Austria, your working hours are regulated in the collective agreement. The normal working hours are 40 hours per week and may not exceed 8 hours per day. All hours in excess of this are considered overtime and must be compensated by your employer.

The maximum working time in the catering industry is 60 hours per week and 12 hours per day. This means that working hours that exceed this limit will be penalized. In this case, the company in which you work must expect an administrative fine.

There are now alternative time models that are increasingly being used in companies. These two models are particularly relevant for service staff:

• Working time calculation: In this model, normal working hours can be extended to more than 40 hours in individual weeks. In return, you work correspondingly fewer hours in other weeks.
• 4-day week: The normal weekly working hours are spread over four days. You have the other three days off.

The Austrian government has laid down clear rules to protect employees in the service sector. These include minimum wages, restrictions on working hours and break regulations. As everywhere in working life , it is important that you are aware of your rights and obligations. Do you have any questions? Then get in touch with the service centers of the Chamber of Labor or the AMS!

Working in service, like any profession, can be challenging, but it also offers the opportunity to meet great people, develop valuable skills and build a career in the hospitality industry.

The working hours in service in Austria offer you a flexible field of activity with guaranteed variety. Should you ever need a weekend or a public holiday off? No problem! Simply swap shifts with a colleague and enjoy your free time!

Are you interested in working in service? Then check out the current vacancies now - on HOGASTJOB!

Are you interested in working in service? Then check out the current vacancies now - on HOGASTJOB!