Sick pay in Czechia: What you're owed, leave for sick kids, and inspector visits

When you’re unable to work due to illness in Czechia, sick pay provides a way to recover financially while you’re unable to work. Understanding the system can help you prepare for potential income loss during illness.

The payment system is split into two parts: Wage compensation from your employer for the first 14 days, and state-paid sick leave if your illness extends beyond this period.

Wage compensation during sick leave is calculated based on the hours you would have worked if you hadn’t fallen ill. It is deposited directly into the same account as your salary. It covers only the working days and any holidays that fall on working days.

The compensation amount is 60 percent of your reduced average hourly earnings, and the calculation is fairly complex. First, your average hourly earnings are determined by dividing your gross wages by the hours worked in the previous quarter. This amount is then reduced through several thresholds based on the average wage, which is CZK 43,967 for 2024.

During the first two weeks of illness, your employer pays you a portion of your salary as “wage compensation.” This pay only covers the days you would typically work, so weekends and holidays aren’t included. The amount you receive is based on your average earnings in the preceding quarter, and the rate is about 60 percent of your average daily earnings, adjusted according to predefined calculation rules.

If your illness lasts beyond 14 days, you start receiving sick pay from the Czech Social Security Administration (CSSA). These payments, known as “sickness insurance benefits,” are calculated based on your average daily earnings and are paid out for every day, including weekends and holidays. The rate of these payments gradually increases with the length of your illness.

Self-employed individuals can only receive sickness benefits if they voluntarily pay for health insurance. Payments start on the 15th day of illness, and the amount depends on their chosen level of insurance contribution.

For an easy calculation, you can use an online sick pay calculator to determine how much you might receive based on your income.

In the Czech Republic, employees can receive a nursing allowance to help cover lost income when caring for a sick child or another dependent. This benefit is available for up to nine or 16 days for single parents with a child under 16 still in school. To qualify, you must be an employee or, if self-employed, voluntarily pay for health insurance.

The allowance also covers situations like school closures, quarantine, or the illness of the usual caregiver. This calculator can help determine what you are entitled to.

Employees must promptly notify their employer of any temporary incapacity to work, ideally right after receiving a diagnosis. Notification methods—such as phone, SMS, or email—are flexible, but email is preferred for proof of notification.

With the introduction of the eNeschopenka system, electronic sick notes simplify the process, removing the need for physical documents. The doctor submits the employee’s diagnosis, incapacity start date, and other details to the district social security administration (OSSZ), which informs the employer by the next working day.

On sick leave? You’ll need to follow the walking schedule your doctor sets, and it might be checked. For the first two weeks, your employer or OSSZ can inspect; after that, OSSZ takes over.

Inspections are unannounced and can happen anytime, including weekends and holidays. They’ll come to the address you gave your doctor, so make sure your name is on the doorbell. You don’t have to let inspectors inside—just have your ID and Work Card ready for verification.

Outings, like dog walks, are up to your doctor, capped at six hours between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. (possibly split). A dog isn’t a reason for extra outings, so you might need help if you’re not cleared for walks.

If inspectors miss you at home, they’ll request an explanation. Failure to provide a valid reason could lead to OSSZ reducing or ending your sick leave, issuing fines, or, if it’s an employer-led check, even reducing pay or dismissal for major violations.