Last updated on January 17, 2024.

Paid Time Off (PTO) in Czechia

Vacation (Annual Leave) Quota

20 days

Full-time employees in the Czech Republic are entitled to at least 20 days of fully paid vacation. Employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement may be entitled to more vacation days. Also, certain professions, like teachers, can have up to 8 weeks of annual leave. Employees who work part-time have fewer vacation days, and it depends on how many working hours they have per month.

With this vacation entitlement of 20 days for its regular employees, the Czech Republic is the same as most leave laws in Germany, Serbia, and other countries’ leave policies in Europe. Longer vacation entitlement has been granted, for example, in the United Kingdom (28 days), France (25), and Finland (25).

To be eligible for vacation entitlement, employees must have worked for at least 60 days in the company.

All full-time employees are allowed to take 2 consecutive weeks of annual leave.

Carry Over

Allowed.

Employees are encouraged to take their earned leave within the given year. Still, there is an option to allow employees to transfer a part of their unused vacation days to the subsequent year. Requests for leave carryover should be submitted in written form and provided to the employer in advance.

Sick Leave in Czechia

Up to 74 days

When ill, employees in Slovakia are entitled to up to 74 days of partially paid sick leave. This leave can be extended up to a maximum of 380 calendar days in the case of some severe diseases.

Employers are required to compensate employees for the initial 14 days of leave. Employees begin receiving social security benefits on the 15th day.

An employer must maintain records with medical certificates from sick employees. All necessary documents and reports must be sent to the government (social security system).

Payout of Sick Leave

Who pays sick leave, and the exact rate depends on the duration of the absence:

• The employer will pay for leave from the first day up to 14 days at a rate of 60% of regular income.

• The government pays leave (a social security benefit) at a rate of 66% of regular income from the 15th day to the 44th day.

• The government also pays leave from the 45th day up to the 74th day (as a social security benefit) at a rate of 72% of regular income.

Family Care Leave

Employees have the right to take caregiver’s leave for the purpose of caring for immediate family members who are sick and require help. This leave is unpaid, and its duration is not explicitly defined.

Maternity and Paternity Leave

Maternity Leave in Czechia

28 weeks of partially paid leave

When pregnant, women in the Czech Republic are entitled to 28 weeks of partially paid maternity leave. In cases of multiple births, leave is extended up to 37 weeks. Maternity leave may begin at 8 weeks and onwards from delivery; however, this absence must begin at the latest 6 weeks before the due date.

To be eligible for this leave and maternity benefits, an employee must have contributed to social security insurance for 270 calendar days or more.

An employee on maternity leave has job protection starting from the start of their absence and up to 1 full year after the end of their leave.

Payout

Maternity benefits are paid by the government at a rate of 70% of the standard salary.

Paternity Leave in Czechia

2 weeks

Paternity leave lasts for 2 weeks and is meant for caring for the newborn. The father may select the start date for paternity leave. An employee qualifies for paternity leave if he is listed as the father on the child’s birth certificate. The status of an employee on paternity leave is job-protected.

Payout

Paternity allowance is paid by the government, the same as maternity leave, at a rate of 70% of the standard salary. To be eligible for paternity benefits (paternity allowance), an employee must have contributed to social security insurance for at least 3 months before the leave. To receive the paternity benefits, the father must take his paternity leave within 6 weeks of the child’s birth or the date the child was adopted.

Parental Leave in Czechia

May be taken until the child is 3 years old

Either parent may take parental leave following the closing of maternity leave, which may last until the child is 3 years old (or a maximum of 4 years; only with the approval of an employer).

Payout

Parents receive a combined parental benefit (allowance) for the whole duration of this leave, without limits on its length.

Bereavement Leave in Czechia

3 days

Employees in the Czech Republic are entitled to 3 days of paid bereavement leave in the unfortunate event of the death of a close family member.

Jury Duty Leave in Czechia

Required by law

Employers are required to offer their employees leave to respond to a subpoena or to fulfill responsibilities related to the court, such as participating as plaintiffs or defendants in legal proceedings, serving as jurors, or appearing as witnesses in court. To be eligible for this leave, an employee must present a copy of the official jury service call (with time, date, and court) to their employer as proof of this legal obligation.

Payout

Jury duty leave may be either paid or unpaid, depending on the company policy.

Military Leave in Czechia

Required by law.

An employer is required to provide leave for employees’s mandatory armed forces duties, including mandatory military service, substitute service, military drills, and other armed forces roles. This also covers short-term absences, such as personal appearances at military units or medical exams.

Payout

During most types of military leave, employees are entitled to regular earnings.
Employers must pay the first two weeks’ wages at the average earnings rate. However, in any case, employers must pay the first two weeks’ salary at the start of armed forces service.

Also, employees with family members who are dependent on their salary (spouse or children) are eligible for special benefits during military exercises and services.

Voting Leave in Czechia

Voting leave is not specified by law.

Public Holidays in Czechia for 2024

13 public holidays

There are 13 legal public holidays in Czech Republic.

Employees are entitled to receive their standard wages on a public holiday. If an employee works on a public holiday, they are entitled to either time in lieu equivalent to the hours worked, premium pay typically one and one-half times (150%) or two times of the regular rate. Public holidays that occur during the weekend are generally not observed.

A complete list of official holidays celebrated in Czech Republic in 2024:

Sources

1. Local Laws & Regulations, https://www.atlashxm.com/en/countries/czech-republic

2. Payroll and Benefits Guide Czech Republic, https://www.papayaglobal.com/countrypedia/country/czech-republic/

3. Definitive Guide to Hiring in Czech Republic, https://www.globalexpansion.com/countrypedia/czech-republic

To learn more about laws in various countries, check out our Leave Laws page.