Sick Leave in Slovakia 2026: How Much You Are Paid and How to Arrange It

From 1 January 2026 the rules for paying sick leave in Slovakia have changed: the employer now pays for the first 14 days instead of the previous ten, and Sociálna poisťovňa only takes over from day fifteen. Here is how much you get at each stage and what you have to do for the money to arrive.

How much is paid, and by whom

Period Who pays How much
Days 1–3 employer 25% of the daily base
Days 4–14 employer 55% of the daily base
From day 15 Sociálna poisťovňa 55% of the daily base

A collective agreement can set a higher payment — up to 80 per cent of the daily base. If there is a trade union at your workplace, check the collective agreement; the difference is significant.

What the daily base is

Denný vymeriavací základ is calculated from your contribution-liable income over the preceding period, divided by the number of days. In plain terms, it is your average daily earnings on which contributions were paid. Important: the base is capped at a maximum, so on a high salary the percentage of your actual income will work out at less than 55.

That is why a long period of sick leave almost always means a noticeable drop in income, and it is worth planning for in advance.

What you need to do

  1. See a doctor. Sick leave is issued by your treating doctor, usually your GP (všeobecný lekár) or a specialist.
  2. Tell your employer. Do this without delay, on the same day or the next.
  3. Follow the rules on staying at home. The doctor sets the hours during which you have to be at home. Sociálna poisťovňa carries out checks, and breaking these rules can cost you the payment.
  4. Close the sick leave. The end of your incapacity for work is also recorded by the doctor.

Sick leave in Slovakia is now issued electronically (ePN), so in most cases there are no paper certificates to carry anywhere — the data is passed between the doctor, the employer and Sociálna poisťovňa automatically.

If you are self-employed

An SZČO has no employer, so the first 14 days paid by an employer simply do not exist. Entitlement to a payment from Sociálna poisťovňa arises only if sickness insurance has been paid and the conditions on the length of insurance are met. If you pay the contributions, the payment starts from the first day of incapacity.

OČR: caring for a sick family member

A separate payment is available if you are caring for a sick child or another close relative, or if a nursery or school has been closed. It also amounts to 55 per cent of the daily base and is paid by Sociálna poisťovňa for a limited number of days.

Frequently asked questions

Does sick leave count towards holiday entitlement?

Periods of incapacity for work generally do not count as time worked for holiday purposes, and after a long spell of sick leave your holiday entitlement may be reduced.

Can I be dismissed while on sick leave?

During temporary incapacity for work a protective period applies, during which the employer cannot dismiss the employee, apart from certain cases such as the winding up of the business.

What happens if I am not at home when they check?

Breaking the rules on incapacity for work can lead to the payment being reduced or withdrawn. If you need to leave the house for medical reasons, agree it with your doctor.

I work on a dohoda. Am I entitled to sick pay?

It depends on whether sickness insurance contributions are paid for you. With regular dohody that include contributions the entitlement arises; with irregular ones, usually not.

See also

This information is for guidance only

This article describes the general rules in force in 2026 and is intended as orientation. The specific terms depend on the company you choose and on your situation, so read the conditions before signing a contract and consult a specialist if needed.

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