Working Vacation with Room and Board

For some people, a vacation means relaxing and "kicking back. Others prefer to stay active: a working vacation with room and board for active travelers.

Another group of vacationers prefers working during their vacation in exchange for room and board. One important point here is that this work is unpaid. Still, the appeal of something new, such as helping out on a "farm" or a ranch in Austria, is big.
One advantage is that, basically, you only have to pay for the trip out of your own pocket.

The requirements for a vacation job with accommodation

Under German youth employment protection rules, teenagers can take a proper vacation job from the age of 15. All that is needed is their parents' permission.
Adults aged 18 and over are free to decide what they do with and during their vacation. There are exceptions, though, for example if the employment contract says that a side job or part-time job must be approved by the employer. Some employers want their employees to stay fit and focus fully on their main job. They can even prohibit working on vacation for room and board. The reason given is usually that the employee is supposed to take it easy and rest.
But some people rest very well while doing physical work in the countryside, in a new and beautiful setting. Here, everyone should talk to their employer to try to win them over. Knowledge of English is a clear advantage. In Austria in particular, employers offering vacation jobs often speak English with staff from different countries.

Vacation job with accommodation

Before working on vacation for room and board, everyone should think carefully about exactly what they want to do and how many hours they want to work. How long should the work last?
Mountains, wide fields and meadows, the clean air and the fantastic nature of Austria attract many people. For example, there are farms that are happy to take on an extra hand.
Caring for animals, mucking out the stable, collecting eggs from the hens, filling the manure pile, sweeping and many other things are tasks that require a sound physical condition.
Not only farms, but also monasteries are happy to take in people who are willing to work for a limited time.

Negotiating the terms

In Austria, the usual working time for a vacation worker is 5 hours a day. The host should grant 1 to 2 days off.
On farms and ranches in particular, everyone is immediately integrated into the family and gets to experience Austrian customs and traditions firsthand.
If you work at a riding stable, for example, you can negotiate with the owner to get a discounted or occasionally even free riding lesson. That gives working on vacation for room and board a little highlight.
Setting the length of your stay in writing beforehand makes for a good start.

Tips:

● Get permission from your parents or employer
● Agree on working hours and free time
● Choose the location and type of work carefully in advance
● Check your physical health, for example: do you have allergies to animals or grasses?
● Enjoy your vacation despite the work