Understanding Employee Leave Entitlements in the Czech Republic

For international HR professionals managing teams in the Czech Republic, navigating the local leave policies is essential for compliance and employee satisfaction. Czech labor law provides comprehensive leave entitlements that balance employee welfare with business needs.

Annual Leave Provisions

Employees accrue four weeks of paid annual leave for each completed year of continuous service. Those with at least four weeks of employment but less than one year receive pro-rated leave. Annual leave must typically be used within the calendar year, though employees facing work-related obstacles or emergencies may request a carryover to the following year in writing.

Maternity Leave Regulations

Maternity leave is mandatory in the Czech Republic, with employees entitled to 28 weeks of leave (extendable to 37 weeks for multiple births). Leave generally begins six weeks before the expected delivery date, with a minimum 14-week requirement even in cases of stillbirth. Consider this scenario: An employee gives birth prematurely at 34 weeks. She would be entitled to the full 28-week maternity leave period from her first day of leave.

Employees on maternity leave can apply for maternity benefits through the Czech Social Security Administration, receiving 70% of their daily assessment base to offset income loss during this period.

Parental Leave Options

Both parents have the right to parental leave until their child reaches three years of age. Mothers can transition directly from maternity leave, while fathers can take leave following the child's birth. Applications must be submitted at least 30 days in advance, barring exceptional circumstances.

For example, if a child requires extended hospitalization, parental leave is interrupted during the institutional care period. The unused portion resumes when the child returns home, but cannot extend beyond the child's third birthday.

Parental benefit applications must be submitted to employers before claiming benefits, with employers forwarding documentation to the relevant social security authority.

Paternity Leave Benefits

Fathers receive 14 days of paternity leave within six weeks of their child's birth, accompanied by paternity benefit equivalent to 14 days of compensation. Employees must apply for both leave and benefits through their employer following labor code procedures.

Sick Leave Compensation Structure

Employees receive paid sick leave for the first 14 days of illness or quarantine at 60% of their average earnings. Beyond this period, sickness benefits transition to social security coverage with a tiered compensation system:

Days 1-30: 60% of reduced daily assessment base
Days 31-60: 66% of reduced daily assessment base
Day 61 onward: 72% of reduced daily assessment base

Compensation is reduced by 50% if the incapacity results from employee misconduct such as fighting or intoxication.

Public Holidays in 2025

The Czech Republic observes 14 public holiday days across 12 occasions in 2025, including a three-day Christmas period. Employers can only require holiday work under special circumstances, with employees receiving compensatory time off within three months or monetary compensation at their average earnings rate.

Holiday	Date
New Year's Day / Czechoslovak Independence Day	January 1
Good Friday	April 18
Easter Monday	April 21
Labor Day	May 1
Liberation Day	May 8
Saints Cyril and Methodius Day	July 5
Jan Hus Day	July 6
St. Wenceslas Day	September 28
Independent Czechoslovak State Day	October 28
Struggle for Freedom and Democracy Day	November 17
Christmas Holiday	December 24-26

Additional Paid Leave Categories

Employees may take leave for various other circumstances with corresponding benefits:

Care for children under 10 or dependent relatives (parental/care allowance)
Long-term care provision (long-term care allowance)
Personal work obstacles with employer-provided compensation
Public duty fulfillment with appropriate compensation
Military service obligations
Mandatory training participation

Unpaid Leave Considerations

Employers may grant unpaid leave while maintaining the employment relationship. All employment rights and obligations continue during such periods, ensuring job protection for employees taking extended personal time.

Streamlining Compliance with SailGlobal

Managing Czech leave entitlements requires precise calculation and documentation. SailGlobal's employment solutions ensure accurate tracking of paid leave balances and compliance with local regulations, helping international businesses maintain proper workforce management in the Czech market.

Czech Republic Employee Leave Guide: Annual, Maternity & Sick Leave Policies