On vacation it can sometimes go quite quickly and the hotel room is transformed into a small hospital. Minor illnesses or injuries can spoil the joy of the most beautiful time of the year. But does that mean that the vacation days are also “used up”?
Not necessarily, says the Styrian Chamber of Labor, pointing out that "sick on vacation also means sick." AK labor law expert Lukas Lecker explains: "The illness must last longer than three calendar days. It must not have been caused intentionally or through gross negligence. I must report sick to a doctor - directly on site and not at home - and also report the illness to my employer within three days at the latest. If it is not possible to report the illness in time due to the severity of the illness, it can be done as soon as possible. Confirmation of sick leave is also essential. This must be presented without being asked to do so when I return to work."
Put simply, this means that you have to see a doctor at the holiday destination and he has to certify that you are unable to work. Only then can vacation turn into sick leave. It gets somewhat more complicated when vacationing abroad. In the event of illness, in addition to the medical certificate, an official confirmation is required from which it can be seen that the medical certificate was issued by a licensed doctor. It does not apply if the treatment took place in a public hospital.
"To avoid annoying formalities, you should find out before you go on holiday abroad whether the e-card is valid in the destination country and whether further documents are required," advises the lawyer. Depending on the country, costs may also arise, such as having to pay for the treatment yourself. "In Austria, the health insurance company will then reimburse you 80 percent of the costs that would have been incurred for the same treatment with a contracted doctor in the country."
Important: The illness-related interruption does not extend the vacation. As soon as the agreed vacation is over or the employee is healthy again, he must go back to work immediately.
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