Can I take sick days without a doctor's note in Czechia?
Without a doctor's note there's no legal right to paid sick leave. The statutory route is the eNeschopenka, filed electronically by your doctor to the social security office and your employer. Money flows in two phases: days 1–14 the employer pays 60 % of your reduced average earnings (working days), from day 15 the state pays sickness benefit — 60 % of the reduced base, rising to 66 % from day 31 and 72 % from day 61 (calendar days). You must follow the sick regime (outings max 6 hours a day, checks by both the office and the employer), and dismissal is barred during sick leave (protection period). Company sick days without a note are a voluntary benefit — the law doesn't know them.
📋 The rules
- Paid sickness = doctor's eNeschopenka (electronic, from day 1)
- Days 1–14: employer pays 60 % of reduced average earnings
- From day 15: state benefit — 60 % / 66 % (day 31+) / 72 % (day 61+)
- Sick regime: stay at the registered address, outings max 6 h/day (9–19)
- No dismissal during sick leave (protection period, with exceptions)
🔓 Exceptions
- Sick days: employer benefit (usually 3–5 days, no note needed)
- Carer's allowance: separate benefit for nursing a sick child/relative (60 %, 9/16 days)
- Breaking the regime: benefit cuts, in gross cases even dismissal
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Absence without a note or approval = unexcused absence: leave cuts, dismissal, immediate termination for longer absences. Breaking the sick regime: benefit reduction or withdrawal, fines.
📎 Official sources
- ČSSZ · Sickness benefit details (CS) →
- Peníze.cz · Sick pay 2026 — how much (CS) →
- e15 · Sick note 2026 — outings, payments, rules (CS) →
❓ Frequently asked
Can I stay home one day without a doctor?
Only with employer approval (leave, a sick-day benefit, unpaid day) — otherwise it's unexcused absence.
How much do I get the first two weeks?
60 % of reduced average hourly earnings for working days — roughly two-thirds of net pay at average wages.
When may I go outside?
As your doctor allows, max 6 hours a day between 9:00 and 19:00; inspections come unannounced.
Can I be fired while sick?
Generally not during the protection period; exceptions include employer closure or prior gross misconduct. Notice periods extend by the sickness.
What if my child is sick?
You draw the carer's allowance — 60 % of the reduced base, up to 9 days (16 for single parents).
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “sick leave czech republic”
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- “fired while sick czech”