Applying for jobs while on sick leave: what's allowed and when to exercise caution

An interesting position appears just when you are on sick leave. Are you allowed to send the application? Is an online interview possible? And does the potential new employer need to know that a sick leave is currently in effect? Such questions are delicate because two legitimate interests come together: your professional future and the duty not to jeopardize recovery.

The short answer is: Applying during sick leave is not categorically prohibited in Austria. However, the decisive factor is always the individual case. An activity that is compatible with the illness, medical orders, or the recovery process can be justifiable. A face-to-face interview, a long journey, or even a trial shift, on the other hand, can create an unnecessary labor-law risk. This guide helps to plan applications, interviews and a possible job change properly.

Sick leave means incapacity for work, not automatically house arrest

Sick leave means that someone is temporarily unable to perform the contractually owed work due to illness or accident. Whether incapacity for work exists is determined by the treating physician. This is also confirmed by the Austrian Health Insurance Fund on sick leave.

Incapacity for work is not to be equated with complete inactivity for every illness. Someone who, because of an injury, cannot perform a physically demanding shift may still be able to compose an email for a short time. With an acute flu, on the other hand, even an apparently harmless appointment can be unreasonable. For mental illnesses, physical activity and a structured daily routine can be part of the treatment, while additional stress from applying for jobs can hamper recovery in other situations.

The Arbeiterkammer explains conduct during sick leaveThe central rule: employees must not do anything that could delay recovery. Which activities are appropriate for the illness depends on the medical situation. In case of doubt, one should therefore consult the treating physician rather than an opinion found on the internet.

The general duties toward the existing business remain unaffected. Our overview of Sick leave in Austria explains notification, certification, continued payment of wages and termination in detail.

Submitting an application is not the same as working

Creating or sending an application is, in principle, not work for the current employer. Even an online application made from home does not automatically prove that one’s regular duties would be possible again. The burdens can be completely different: ten minutes on a personal laptop are not the same as an eight-hour shift, customer appointments, heavy lifting, or sustained concentration under time pressure.

Nevertheless, not every application activity is automatically harmless. Before sending, check:

Does the activity contradict a medical order or recommended rest?
Does writing the application place a greater physical or mental strain on you than it initially seems?
Are you using exclusively private devices, accounts, and documents?
Does the application contain confidential data from your current employer?
Could the activity prolong your sick leave or interfere with your treatment?

The same quality standards apply to documents even while on sick leave. The AMS recommends Online applicationindividual, complete, and truthful documents. If you have little energy due to health reasons, it is better to carefully complete one suitable application than to send several hasty standard emails. Our Checklist for application documents helps with the final check.

Are you allowed to attend a job interview while on sick leave?

There is no responsible yes or no about attending a job interview without considering the specific illness. The appointment must be compatible with the recovery process. A one-hour interview including travel, waiting time and the return trip places a different strain than a short online interview. The outward impression also matters: if the behavior clearly contradicts the limitations, the current employer may question the incapacity for work or suspect a breach of duty.

Four questions before accepting the offer

What is medically acceptable? If in doubt, clarify whether an interview, screen time, travel or prolonged sitting could jeopardize recovery.
How much strain will it cause? Berücksichtigen Sie Vorbereitung, Kleidung, Weg, Gesprächsdauer und Erholungszeit, nicht nur den Kalendereintrag.
Passt das Verhalten zum Krankheitsbild? An activity can be appropriate for one diagnosis and clearly unsuitable for another.
Is there a gentler alternative? A later appointment, a phone call, or an online conversation can keep the process open.

Online is often easier, but not a free pass

The AMS describes online interviews as a regular form of interview with its own preparation, technology and professional framework. When on sick leave, an online appointment can reduce travel and physical strain. It is still a demanding appointment. If you cannot muster the concentration, voice or stamina, you should postpone rather than force yourself through the conversation,

How to postpone an appointment without disclosing medical details

A short-term illness can affect anyone. You do not automatically have to explain the diagnosis to a potential employer. A brief, reliable message is usually enough:

"Thank you for the invitation. For health reasons I unfortunately cannot attend the appointment on Tuesday with the necessary quality. Would Thursday morning or Friday from 2:00 PM be possible? Alternatively, I am available for a short online meeting."

What matters is prompt notification, a concrete alternative proposal, and a professional tone. Cancelling only a few minutes before the meeting, even though the impediment was already known, raises avoidable doubts. By contrast, reacting early and solution-oriented demonstrates organizational ability.

These activities are particularly risky

There is a clear line between a job application email and actual work performance. Employees should be especially cautious in the following situations:

Trial work or taster shift:In such cases, work is already being performed for another company. That can be incompatible with being on sick leave and can raise further legal questions.
Long trips:A several-hour trip or a change of location may contradict a doctor's instructions. A changed place of stay may also need to be reported to the health insurance provider.
Use of company equipment:Company laptop, work email address, printer, or working hours of your current employer do not belong in private job searches.
Confidential work samples:Customer data, internal metrics, source code, and unpublished projects must not be submitted.
Contradictory public posts:A photo alone proves little, but it can trigger unnecessary conflicts if it clearly contradicts the reported restriction.

Anyone who wants to change their place of residence or travel abroad should check the ÖGK's requirements in advance. If in doubt, a job application process is not a reason to ignore medical recommendations or reporting obligations.

Does the current employer need to know about the application?

Job searching is fundamentally a private matter. There is no general obligation to inform your current employer about an external application. Sick leave does not change that. Employees must properly report sick leave to their current employer and provide proof on request. According to the Chamber of Labour, they are not required to disclose the diagnosis.

However, discretion doesn't happen by itself. Use private contact details, disable conspicuous profile notifications, and explicitly state that the current employer must not be contacted without consent. Our guide to discreet applications while still employed shows how devices, references and appointments can be kept separate.

Colleagues should also only be informed if it is really necessary. Even well-intentioned support can spread information faster than planned.

Does the new employer need to be informed about the sick leave?

A temporary sick leave does not automatically have to be mentioned in an application. What matters is whether you can meet the essential requirements of the position you are applying for and when a realistic start date is possible. A diagnosis does not belong in the CV or the cover letter.

The WKO on conducting interviewsNotes that questions about a person's general health should, in principle, not be asked. An exception may apply if a specific activity necessarily requires certain health-related abilities. It therefore makes a difference whether illnesses are asked about in general terms or whether an employer factually clarifies whether an essential task can be performed safely.

Respond to the job requirement

Instead of disclosing private medical details, applicants can address their specific ability to work:

"I can fulfill the tasks listed in the job posting."
"I am expected to be available for the intended start date."
"I do not wish to provide information about private health data. We can gladly discuss the essential requirements of the position individually."

False statements about an objectively necessary professional requirement are not a good strategy. However, applicants do not have to let inadmissible general questions become the starting point for a detailed diagnostic discussion. The AMS summarizes inadmissible questions and possible responses für österreichische Bewerbungsgespräche zusammen.

Planen Sie Startdatum und Kündigung nicht zu knapp

Ein neuer Vertrag löst den gesundheitlichen Zustand nicht automatisch. Wer einen Starttermin verspricht, sollte realistisch einschätzen, ob Genesung, Kündigungsfrist, Resturlaub und Übergabe zusammenpassen. Ein zu knapp angesetzter Wechsel kann dazu führen, dass der neue Job bereits mit Zeitdruck oder einer weiteren Erkrankung beginnt.

Kündigen Sie den aktuellen Job nicht nur aufgrund einer mündlichen Zusage. Prüfen Sie zuerst schriftlich Tätigkeit, Arbeitsort, Wochenstunden, Gehalt, Kollektivvertrag, Probezeit und Startdatum. Besteht der Krankenstand noch, sollten auch mögliche Auswirkungen einer eigenen Kündigung oder einvernehmlichen Auflösung auf Entgeltfortzahlung und Krankengeld vorab mit Arbeiterkammer oder ÖGK geklärt werden.

Wichtig: Auch der aktuelle Arbeitgeber kann im Krankenstand kündigen. Die Arbeiterkammer weist darauf hin, dass die üblichen Kündigungsfristen und -termine gelten und für eine mögliche Anfechtung sehr kurze Fristen laufen können. Wer eine Kündigung erhält, sollte daher sofort Beratung einholen und nicht erst den Ausgang der Bewerbung abwarten.

Ein sicherer Acht-Schritte-Plan

Genesung priorisieren: Prüfen Sie, welche Aktivität medizinisch vertretbar ist.
Select position: Apply specifically to roles that really fit.
Work privately: Use only your own devices, accounts and files.
Limit documents: Do not provide a diagnosis or share confidential company data.
Choose conversation format: Decide between rescheduling, phone call, online, and in-person appointments.
Prepare health-related questions: Answer factually about specific task requirements.
Start negotiating realistically: Plan a buffer for recovery and your notice period.
Decide in writing first: Do not resign before you have a firm offer and have assessed the consequences.

Three common real-world situations

Acute infection, in-person interview the next day

Fever, severe cold symptoms and traveling across town clearly call for postponement. That protects your own recovery and other people. An early cancellation offering two alternative dates is more professional than appearing weak or contagious.

Leg injury, short online application for an office position

If the doctor has not prohibited screen work and the application does not impair healing, a short activity may be justifiable. It does not follow from this that the previous physical activity would be possible again. A personal interview involving a long journey should be assessed separately.

Mental strain and urgent desire for change

A stressful workplace can intensify the desire for change. Nevertheless, the application process should not become an additional full-time project. Small steps, clear time limits, and medical consultation are sensible if interviews or rejections worsen the condition. In an acute crisis, help takes precedence over job hunting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is applying for a job prohibited during sick leave?

No, there is no general ban on applying for jobs. However, the specific activity must not delay recovery and must be consistent with medical instructions and the illness.

Am I allowed to conduct an online job interview?

This may be possible if the appointment is medically justifiable and sufficiently low-stress. Online does not automatically mean unproblematic. In case of doubt, the appointment should be postponed or clarified with a doctor.

Do I have to tell the new company my diagnosis?

No, a diagnosis is generally a private matter. Discuss the specific requirements of the role and a realistic start date. For positions with mandatory health requirements, factually limited questions may be permissible.

May the current employer provide references?

The prospective new employer should not contact your current workplace without your express consent. Include a confidentiality notice in your application and provide alternative references.

What if I am terminated during the application process?

Have the termination date, continued payment of wages, and any possible challenge reviewed immediately. Deadlines can be very short. An ongoing application does not replace employment law advice.

Conclusion: Plan your professional future — don’t put your recovery at risk.

Applying while on sick leave can be possible if your documents and appointments fit your health situation. The right standard is not whether an activity appears harmless externally, but whether it is medically justifiable and does not delay recovery. A short application email, an online interview, and a trial shift are therefore three very different levels of strain.

Use private devices, keep diagnoses out of your documents, reschedule unsuitable interviews promptly, and don’t promise an unrealistic start date. This keeps the application process professional without unnecessarily jeopardizing your sick leave or existing entitlements.

Sources and further information

Note: This post provides general guidance for Austria and does not replace medical or individual employment-law advice.