Austrian police to pilot new service and overtime model

The Austrian police are preparing to implement a new service time model, which includes a voluntary overtime system. A pilot phase is set to begin in the Leibnitz district of Styria, with the goal of rolling out the model nationwide across Austria over the next two years. In Tyrol, the implementation is planned for April 2027.

State Police Director Helmut Tomac has defended the initiative against claims that it is a cost-cutting measure, stating that the 2027/28 federal budget will provide the same funds for overtime as currently exists. However, the police union has expressed significant criticism regarding the new regulations. The union is particularly concerned that weekend shifts may increasingly be classified as regular working hours rather than overtime, and that a reduction in 24-hour shifts could lead to lower overall pay for many officers.

Michaela Kohlweiß, the Carinthian State Police Director, noted that while Carinthia is not part of the initial testing phase, the results from the five pilot districts will be closely monitored to identify necessary adjustments and improvements before the national rollout.