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A Relieving Letter documents the official end of your employment relationship with an Austrian company. This formal document confirms you've completed all necessary handover tasks, settled any pending matters, and fulfilled your contractual obligations before leaving.

Under Austrian labor law (Arbeitsrecht), employers aren't legally required to provide Relieving Letters, but they're commonly issued as good business practice. The letter helps employees transition smoothly to new jobs by verifying their proper departure and clearing them of ongoing responsibilities. Many Austrian companies now request these letters from job candidates as part of their hiring process.

Request a Relieving Letter when leaving your job in Austria, especially if you're moving to another position within the country. This document proves valuable during background checks and helps avoid misunderstandings about your departure status with future employers.

The timing matters: ask for your Relieving Letter during your notice period (Kündigungsfrist), ideally after announcing your resignation but before your last day. Austrian employers often need 1-2 weeks to prepare this document, and having it ready prevents delays in starting your new job. It's particularly important in regulated industries like banking, healthcare, and public service, where employment verification is strict.

• Basic Clearance Letter: States employment dates, position held, and confirms all company property returned
• Detailed Experience Letter: Includes job responsibilities, projects handled, and performance highlights
• Financial Clearance Letter: Focuses on settling accounts, bonuses, and outstanding payments
• Department-Specific Letter: Contains handover details for specialized roles like IT access or client relationships
• International Format: Enhanced version meeting multinational company requirements, often used when leaving Austria for overseas positions

• HR Managers: Draft and issue the Relieving Letter, ensuring it meets Austrian labor law requirements and company policies
• Department Heads: Confirm project handovers and verify returned company assets before letter issuance
• Departing Employees: Request and receive the letter as proof of proper employment termination
• Future Employers: Review letters during hiring process to verify clean departures from previous positions
• Legal Teams: Review letter content to ensure compliance with Austrian employment regulations and protect company interests

• Employee Details: Gather full name, employee ID, position title, and department information
• Employment Dates: Confirm exact joining and leaving dates, including last working day
• Clearance Status: Verify all company property returned and financial settlements completed
• Project Handover: Document completion of knowledge transfer and pending task handovers
• Compliance Check: Ensure letter format meets Austrian labor law requirements and internal policies
• Signature Authority: Identify authorized signatories from HR and department leadership

• Company Header: Official letterhead with company name, registration number, and address in Austria
• Employee Identity: Full name, position title, and employment period with specific dates
• Clearance Statement: Explicit confirmation of all company obligations fulfilled and assets returned
• Non-Compete Reference: Mention of any ongoing confidentiality or competition restrictions
• Financial Settlement: Confirmation that all salary and benefits have been settled
• Authorization: Dated signatures from HR director or authorized representative with company stamp
• GDPR Compliance: Statement on handling of personal data post-employment

A Relieving Letter differs significantly from an Employment Reference Letter in both purpose and content, though they're often confused in Austrian workplace situations.

• Timing and Purpose: Relieving Letters are issued at employment end to confirm proper exit, while Reference Letters can be provided during or after employment to detail performance and skills
• Legal Requirements: Under Austrian law, employees have a right to request Reference Letters (Arbeitszeugnis), but Relieving Letters are voluntary good practice
• Content Focus: Relieving Letters primarily confirm clearance of obligations and company property, while Reference Letters evaluate work quality and professional conduct
• Future Use: Reference Letters support job applications with detailed work history, whereas Relieving Letters prove clean separation from previous employment