Employment & social security law in Vienna
Last updated: July 2026
Termination with notice, summary dismissal, severance pay, workplace bullying or a refused pension: we represent you in employment and social security law. We keep a close eye on every deadline and act for you before the Vienna Labour and Social Court (ASG Wien).
Employment and social security law governs the relationship between employees and employers – from the employment contract through termination with notice, summary dismissal and severance pay to discrimination in the workplace. It also covers disputes with the social insurance system, for example over a pension or long-term care allowance. In Vienna, the court of first instance is the Vienna Labour and Social Court (ASG Wien). Short time limits are often decisive, and some of them cannot be extended – for example, about two weeks for challenging a termination in court or three months to act against a social insurance institution’s administrative decision.
In employment law, it is often the deadline that decides your rights.
A dispute at work or with the social insurance system hits hard. It is usually about your job, your income or your financial security in old age or illness. What makes it so stressful is that many of these cases depend on very short deadlines – and once a deadline has passed, nothing can put it right. You can often challenge a termination only within about two weeks, an employer must dismiss without undue delay, and you have three months to act against a pension decision – a time limit that cannot be extended. If you wait too long, you lose your claims, however well-founded they might be.
We represent both employees and employers – with clear advice, a close eye on deadlines and in proceedings before the Vienna Labour and Social Court. We first check which deadlines are running, give you an honest assessment of your situation and tell you openly what you can realistically achieve. Where an out-of-court solution makes sense, we seek it; where court proceedings become necessary, we represent you in court. If you have legal expenses insurance, it may help with the costs. As a rule, there are also no court fees in social security cases. We advise in German, English, Slovak and Polish.
- You have received notice of termination and want to challenge it – the deadline is short.
- You have been summarily dismissed and doubt whether this was justified.
- Your severance pay has not been paid, or the amount paid is too low.
- You have been asked to sign an employment contract and are unsure about some of its clauses.
- You are experiencing discrimination or harassment at work.
- Your application for a pension, care allowance or rehabilitation benefit has been refused – the three-month deadline is running.
Areas of employment & social security law
Challenging a termination
Socially unjustified termination or a prohibited motive under § 105 of the Labour Constitution Act (ArbVG). Challenging the termination before the ASG Wien – with a very short deadline.
View page → 02Summary dismissal
Immediate termination without notice: the grounds for summary dismissal under § 27 of the Salaried Employees Act (AngG) and § 82 of the Trade Regulation Act 1859 (GewO), the requirement to act without undue delay, and your claims if the dismissal is unjustified.
View page → 03Severance pay
Severance pay under the old scheme or under the new scheme of the Federal Act on Corporate Staff and Self-Employment Provision (BMSVG): how much you are entitled to, and what applies if you resign or are summarily dismissed.
View page → 04Employment contract
Tricky clauses such as a non-compete clause, a contractual penalty or an all-in agreement. There is also the favourability principle to consider. All of this is best checked before you sign.
View page → 05Bullying & discrimination
Discrimination, harassment and sexual harassment under the Equal Treatment Act (GlBG): your claims, the deadlines and securing evidence.
View page → 06Social security & pensions
Taking legal action at the ASG Wien against social insurance decisions on a pension, care allowance or rehabilitation benefit – within three months.
View page → ＋Not sure which applies to you?
Call us or write to us. We will assess your matter in an initial consultation and check straight away which deadlines are running.
Consultation →Employment cases reported in the media
The press has repeatedly reported on employment proceedings in which we represented employees. A selection:
‘The strange bounty system of Vienna’s public transport’
For years, ticket inspectors at Wiener Linien, Vienna’s public transport operator, received performance bonuses, including for penalising breaches of the house rules. In 2025, Wiener Linien stopped these payments, calling them an oversight. We represented one of the inspectors affected; the Labour and Social Court ruled in his favour (the judgment was not yet final at the time of the report).
View original clipping (PDF) →‘More protection for staff representatives’
A works council member at Wiener Linien had been summarily dismissed after criticising the lack of Covid protective measures. The Supreme Court upheld the decisions of the lower courts: the dismissal was unlawful – the special protection for works council members also applies to contract staff of the provinces and municipalities. We represented the works council member.
View original clipping (PDF) →‘Company kept former works council member from working for 5 years’
After 25 years, a works council member was given notice by her Viennese employer. The Vienna Higher Regional Court declared the termination invalid in a final judgment: she received five years’ back pay in full, and the company had to re-employ her. We represented the woman from Floridsdorf.
Read the report on krone.at →Mindful of deadlines, honest and assertive
We first check which deadline is running in your case, give you an honest assessment of your prospects and represent you firmly – out of court where possible, and before the Vienna Labour and Social Court where necessary. We work clearly and calmly, and we treat you as an equal.
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Let’s talk about your case
Tell us about your matter in confidence and without obligation – we will speak to you as an equal. We check your deadline straight away and get back to you promptly.