Apprenticeship years are tough, and the pay is not always enough. So some apprentices come up with ways to bring in a little extra money. Working on vacation during an apprenticeship is then the topic, and is it even allowed? Not everyone knows the rules or whether they have to tell their boss. So it's better to find out beforehand than to run into trouble. Even if things are rarely as bad as they sound, there are certain rules in place. This is about Austria, so the question is: what's allowed and what's off limits?

Working on Vacation as an Apprentice - I'm Young and I Need the Money

That's how most side jobs begin. Working on vacation as an apprentice is a different story, though. Vacation is meant for rest, not for working. But when you're chronically short on cash, hardly anyone thinks about that. You could work as an entertainer, a waiter or a guide while on vacation. Nobody will notice, and you'll surely be well rested anyway.

Still, working on vacation jeopardizes your recovery, and you tend to come back drained. Otherwise you wouldn't have needed the vacation in the first place. "I'm young and I need the money" isn't an argument either. Are the rules really that strict, and is no exception made? After all, what the boss doesn't know can't hurt him. Or is working on vacation as an apprentice really that frowned upon at training companies?

working on vacation as an apprentice

Working on Vacation as an Apprentice - How Do I Go About It?

You should always be honest and open, and employers usually are too. Here are the "rules of the game":

  • There is no blanket ban on working on vacation
  • However, the vacation law of the respective country applies
  • No gainful employment may be carried out on vacation that harms your working life
  • You should come back after vacation rested and full of energy
  • Rest comes first
  • Charitable activities, on the other hand, are allowed
  • Favors for neighbors and friends are not prohibited by law

So it has less to do with the recreational value and more with earning money on the side. That isn't welcomed, but you simply have to accept it. After all, there are no real laws on this. So you can twist and turn working on vacation as an apprentice however you like.

Working on Vacation as an Apprentice - Purpose of Vacation Aside, the Boss Has a Say

Before you head off on your well-earned vacation and want to make a few extra bucks, you need to ask your boss. If he has no objection, you're free to go. And then there's working on vacation as an apprentice, which has a special status. Because of their low pay, apprentices may earn a few extra euros, while regular employees may not.

Side jobs are therefore allowed as long as your job performance doesn't suffer. As you can see, there are certain loopholes. Even so, you should stick to your working hours on vacation too and, if possible, take on a side job that happens outside your vacation time.