OUTLINE
Leave in the Czech Republic
Maternity, paternity, and parental leave in the Czech Republic
Adoption leave in the Czech Republic
Other leave in the Czech Republic
Public holidays in the Czech Republic
Protect your employees and your business
Leave and time off in the Czech Republic
Employees in every country are entitled to a certain amount of time off work each year. For example, in the Czech Republic, full-time employees working in the private sector must be granted at least 20 days (four weeks) of paid annual leave. They are also entitled to paid time off on each of the 13 public holidays observed each year in the Czech Republic.
But annual leave is just one part of the puzzle when it comes to employee leave and time off work. As in all countries, employees in the Czech Republic are entitled to time off work in various situations, such as when they have a baby, get married, or get sick. In this section, we’ll take you through everything you need to know about paid and unpaid time off in the Czech Republic, so you can ensure your Czech employees get the benefits they’re entitled to.
Leave in the Czech Republic
Employees in the Czech Republic are entitled to paid time off work for holidays each year, as well as time off for sickness. Read on to learn what you’ll need to know to set your leave policy in the Czech Republic.
Annual leave in the Czech Republic
Full-time employees working in the private sector in the Czech Republic are entitled to at least 20 days (four weeks) of annual leave per year. Employees in the public sector and those working in certain specific fields are entitled to 25 days of holiday, and teachers are entitled to eight weeks’ leave.
Collective bargaining agreements sometimes provide different requirements for annual leave. And of course, employers are free to set their own leave policies in the Czech Republic, as long as they provide at least as much leave as stipulated by the Labour Code and the relevant collective agreements.
Accruing, using, and carrying over annual leave in the Czech Republic
Employees in the Czech Republic are eligible to take annual leave after 60 days of employment. A new employee is entitled to take one-twelfth of their leave each month, which amounts to 1.66 days.
In theory, employees should use their leave within the allotted year, but it’s possible to carry it over into the next year. When an employee leaves an organisation, their employer must pay out any unused leave.
Sick leave in the Czech Republic
Employees in the Czech Republic are entitled to time off work when they are sick. For the first 14 days of sick leave, the employer is required to pay the employee 60% of their normal wages. After this point, employees can get a benefit from the social security system to cover their lost earnings. Employees are entitled to:
- 60% of their usual pay for the first 30 days (including the 14 days paid by the employer)
- 66% of their usual pay from the 31st day to the 60th day
- 72% of their usual pay from the 61st day onwards
In total, employees can take sick leave for up to 380 days (effectively one year paid by social security, plus two weeks paid by the employer). Employers must collect sickness certificates, maintain records, and report employees on sick leave to the social security authorities.
Maternity, paternity, and parental leave in the Czech Republic
Employees in the Czech Republic are also entitled to paid time off work when they or their partner have a baby. Here’s what you need to know about maternity, paternity, and parental leave in the Czech Republic.
Maternity leave in the Czech Republic
In the Czech Republic, employees are entitled to 27 weeks of maternity leave when they give birth. This is extended to 37 weeks in the case of multiple births. Maternity leave must start at least six weeks before the employee’s due date, but employees are entitled to start it up to eight weeks before. Fourteen of the 27 weeks of maternity leave are mandatory. Employees on maternity leave in the Czech Republic are also protected from dismissal from the beginning of pregnancy to one year after their maternity leave ends.
Paternity leave in the Czech Republic
Fathers in the Czech Republic can take up to two weeks of paternity leave to help with the care of their child. This must begin within six weeks of the birth and must be used in one block. After the child is seven weeks old, mothers can choose to transfer part of their maternity leave to the father. Employees on paternity leave are also protected from dismissal.
Parental leave in the Czech Republic
Both parents are entitled to take parental leave in the Czech Republic until their child is three years old. With the employer’s agreement, this can be extended until the child’s fourth birthday. Employees can’t be fired while they are on parental leave in the Czech Republic.
Pay for maternity, paternity, and parental leave in the Czech Republic
Both maternity and paternity leave in the Czech Republic are paid at 70% of the employee’s normal wages. This is funded by social security, and employees are eligible for pay as long as they have worked at least 270 days within the last 24 months.
When employees take parental leave in the Czech Republic, they can access the parental benefit. This is also paid for by social security and requires the employee to have worked at least 270 days in the last two years. The total parental benefit is set at CZK 350,000 (EUR 13,750), or CZK 525,000 (EUR 20,600) for multiple births. This is a fixed sum which is shared between both parents. Employees can choose the monthly amount they receive until either the total amount is used up or the child turns three years old. This benefit is not income-assessed.
Adoption leave in the Czech Republic
Adoptive parents in the Czech Republic are entitled to roughly the same parental benefits as birth parents. They can take:
- 22 weeks’ maternity leave
- 2 weeks’ paternity leave
- Parental leave until the child turns three
They also have access to the parental benefit under the same conditions as birth parents.
Foster parent benefits in the Czech Republic
In the Czech Republic, maternity and paternity leave can also apply to foster parents. Female employees who foster a child can take maternity leave for up to 22 weeks. If they foster more than one child, they can take up to 31 weeks of leave, but only until the child turns one year old.
Foster parents can also take parental leave from the day the child is taken into their care until their third birthday. If the child is taken into the foster parent’s care between the ages of three and seven, the parents are entitled to up to 22 weeks of parental leave.
Other leave in the Czech Republic
Employees in the Czech Republic may be entitled to take time off work for other reasons, depending on their collective agreement and individual employment contract. Here are some of the other types of leave you may come across if you engage workers in the Czech Republic.
Bereavement leave in the Czech Republic
In the event of the death of an immediate family member, employees in the Czech Republic are entitled to up to three days of paid leave.
Care leave in the Czech Republic
Employees in the Czech Republic are entitled to up to nine days of paid leave at a time to care for a child under 10 years of age or to provide care to a sick family member. This is paid for by the social security system at a rate of 60% of the employee’s normal wages.
There is no limitation on how often employees can take this type of leave, as long as each block is for nine days or less. For single parents in the Czech Republic, the amount of leave an employee can take in one block is extended to 16 days until their child is 16 years old.
Long-term care leave in the Czech Republic
Employees can also take longer periods off work to care for a family member who has spent at least seven days in hospital and who requires care for at least 30 days. Employees must provide the written consent of the person they will be caring for. Long-term care leave is paid for by social security at 60% of the employee’s normal wages, and they can take this leave for up to 90 calendar days.
Wedding leave in the Czech Republic
In the Czech Republic, employees are entitled to take time off work when they get married. They are entitled to two days off work, of which one day is paid.
Jury duty leave in the Czech Republic
Employers in the Czech Republic must provide their employees with leave if they are called for jury duty, as a witness in a case, to respond to a subpoena or act as a plaintiff or defendant in court. This leave doesn’t have to be paid.
Military leave in the Czech Republic
Employees are entitled to leave for compulsory services in the armed forces, as well as civilian services. This leave is unpaid.
Leave for election to office in the Czech Republic
If an employee is elected to public office in the Czech Republic, they are entitled to take up to 20 days of unpaid leave per year to perform their duties.
Public holidays in the Czech Republic
There are 13 public holidays per year in the Czech Republic. These are mostly on fixed dates, apart from Good Friday and Easter Monday, which fall on different dates each year. The principle of sliding holidays, where a holiday is moved to the next working day if it falls on a weekend, does not apply in the Czech Republic.
Are public holidays paid days off in the Czech Republic?
Generally speaking, employees in the Czech Republic shouldn’t work on a public holiday unless it is needed to ensure continuity of the company’s operations. If a public holiday falls on a working day, the employee should be paid for their time off.
Pay for working a public holiday in the Czech Republic
If an employee does work on a public holiday in the Czech Republic, they are entitled to additional compensation. Employers can choose to pay the employee a premium of at least 100% of the employee’s normal wages or to grant them an alternative holiday day within three months of the public holiday they worked.
Public holidays in the Czech Republic in 2024
Here are the public holidays observed in the Czech Republic in 2024:
1 January
New Year’s Day
29 March
Good Friday
1 April
Easter Monday
1 May
Labour Day
1 April
Labour Day
8 May
Liberation Day
5 July
Saints Cyril and Methodius’ Day
6 July
Jan Hus Day
28 September
Czech Statehood Day
28 October
Independence Day
17 November
Freedom and Democracy Day
24 December
Christmas Eve
25 December
Christmas Day
26 December
Second Day of Christmas
Protect your employees and your business
As an employer in the Czech Republic, you need to understand your employees’ rights and entitlements. But keeping up with them can be a lot of work.
When you hire workers with CXC, we’ll ensure your engagements are in line with all local, national, and international employment regulations. That way, your workers will get the benefits they’re entitled to, and your business will be protected from risk.
Compliantly hire employees anywhere with CXC
With our EoR solution, you can engage workers anywhere in the world, without putting your business at risk. No more worrying about local labour laws, tax legislation or payroll customs — we’ve got you covered.
DISCLAIMER: The information contained on this website is provided for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal, tax, or other professional advice on any subject matter. While we endeavor to ensure that the content is accurate and up to date, we make no warranties or representations of any kind regarding the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability of the information contained herein. The content on this site is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice. Users should not act or refrain from acting based on any information on this website without seeking the appropriate legal, tax, or other professional advice tailored to their specific circumstances from qualified professionals. We expressly disclaim all liability in respect to actions taken or not taken based on any or all of the contents of this website. Use of the information on this site does not create an attorney-client, tax advisor-client, or any other professional-client relationship between the user and the website or its authors.
Australia/New Zealand Head Office
Asia Head Office
EMEA Head Office
North America Head Office
Latin America Head Office
Level 3, 99 Walker Street
North Sydney, NSW 2060 Australia
