Double pay or extra days off? Your Czech holiday work rights explained

With four public holidays coming up in as many weeks, we explain exactly what you're entitled to if you work (or don't) on these days.

Thomas Smith

Written by Thomas Smith Published on 01.12.2025 15:59:00 (updated on 01.12.2025) Reading time: 3 minutes

Business & Money Work
Shutterstock by Gorodenkoff
Shutterstock by Gorodenkoff

December has arrived, and with several public holidays around Christmas and the New Year ahead, you’ll likely be anticipating some deserved time off from Dec. 24 to Dec. 26 inclusive, as well as Jan. 1, 2026.

What if you’re working for an international company where a Czech holiday is just another day? Or perhaps your job, in tourism, healthcare, or hospitality, requires you to be on the clock?

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Whether due to the company you work for, your profession, or workload requirements, sometimes working on public holidays is simply unavoidable.

The key distinction: Employee vs. contract worker

Before diving into compensation, you must know your legal status. Czech labor law offers robust protection, but it applies mainly to employees with a formal Employment Contract (HPP).

The rules for holiday pay and compensation do not apply to those working under specific work agreements like a DPP (agreement on work performance), DPČ (agreement on working activity), or those working as OSVČ (self-employed workers), unless your contract explicitly states otherwise.

If you have an HPP, here’s everything you need to know about your rights, from who calls the shots to how much you should get paid when working on national holidays.

#careers #compensation #jobs #labor code #labor law #work #worker's rights #working in Czechia #workplace
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