In Czechia, employees are entitled to at least four weeks (20 working days for a five-day worker) of paid annual leave per year under the Labour Code (Zákoník práce). Employees in certain professions or working in hazardous conditions are entitled to five weeks. Public holidays are separate from annual leave.

Statutory entitlement

4 weeks (20 working days) of annual leave per year. 5 weeks (25 working days) for employees in certain professions (e.g. education, health) or working in hazardous conditions.

Eligibility

All employees are entitled to annual leave. For the first year of employment, leave is pro-rated based on months worked. Full entitlement is available from the second year onwards.

Employer obligations

  • Grant at least 4 weeks (5 weeks for eligible employees) of paid annual leave per year.
  • Pay the employee's average earnings during annual leave.
  • Allow the employee to take annual leave during the calendar year.
  • Pay for unused annual leave on termination of employment.
  • Not require the employee to waive annual leave.

Employee rights

  • Right to 4 weeks (or 5 weeks for eligible employees) of annual leave.
  • Right to be paid at average earnings during annual leave.
  • Right to paid leave payout on termination.

Common pitfalls

  • Not checking if the employee qualifies for 5 weeks — certain professions and hazardous work conditions entitle the employee to an extra week.
  • Not paying at average earnings — annual leave pay is calculated based on the average earnings over the previous quarter.

How annual leave is calculated

Annual leave is calculated in weeks. For a five-day worker, 4 weeks equals 20 working days. Leave is pro-rated in the first year at one-twelfth of the annual entitlement per month worked.

Annual leave pay

Annual leave pay is calculated based on the employee's average earnings over the previous quarter (or the previous year if the employee has not worked a full quarter). This includes all regular wages, allowances, and bonuses.

Carry-over of unused leave

Unused annual leave can be carried over to the next year if the employee was unable to take it due to justified reasons (e.g. illness). The carry-over period is limited.

Frequently asked questions

Which professions qualify for 5 weeks of leave?

Education, health, and social service workers, as well as employees working in hazardous conditions, are entitled to 5 weeks of annual leave.

Can annual leave be paid out instead of taken?

Annual leave must be taken. On termination, unused leave is paid out.

Are public holidays included in annual leave?

No. Public holidays are separate from annual leave and do not count against the entitlement.

Sources

This page is provided for general guidance and does not constitute legal advice. Always check the cited primary source for current law before making employment decisions.