How many days of annual leave do I get?
Four weeks — and five from the age of 33. The basic entitlement under the Labour Code (Act 311/2001) is at least 4 weeks. The decisive threshold is age: an employee who turns 33 by the end of the calendar year is entitled to at least 5 weeks — and it is the end of the year that counts, not the birthday itself, so the higher entitlement applies to the whole year in which you turn 33. Five weeks also go to anyone who has not yet turned 33 but permanently cares for a young child. Teachers, researchers and artistic staff get 8 weeks. Leave above the statutory minimum can be agreed in the contract or a collective agreement.
📋 The rules
- Basic entitlement: at least 4 weeks
- Turning 33 by the end of the year: 5 weeks
- What counts is the end of the calendar year, not the birthday
- 5 weeks also for permanent care of a young child
- Teachers and researchers: 8 weeks
🔓 Exceptions
- A higher entitlement can be agreed in the contract or a collective agreement
- The employer schedules leave, but by agreement with the employee
- Untaken leave can, under certain conditions, be carried into the next year
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Leave is an entitlement, not a reward — the employer must let you take it. Scheduling is for the employer, but by agreement with the employee and with regard to their legitimate interests; it cannot be imposed arbitrarily from one day to the next. Leave generally cannot be paid out instead of taken — the exception is the end of employment, when untaken leave is paid out. If your employer will not let you take your leave, or fails to pay it out on termination, that breaches the Labour Code and is a matter for the labour inspectorate. The claim can also be pursued in court.
📎 Official sources
- Ministry of Labour · Taking annual leave →
- National Labour Inspectorate · Annual leave →
- Slov-Lex · Labour Code (Act 311/2001) →
❓ Frequently asked
How much annual leave am I entitled to?
The basic entitlement is at least four weeks. Anyone who turns 33 by the end of the calendar year is entitled to at least five. A higher entitlement can be agreed in the contract or a collective agreement.
From when do I get five weeks?
What counts is the end of the calendar year, not the birthday. If you turn 33 at any point during the year, the higher entitlement applies for that whole year — including the months before your birthday.
Can I get five weeks before turning 33?
Yes, if you permanently care for a young child. You are then entitled to five weeks even though you have not yet reached 33. Teachers and researchers get eight weeks.
Can my employer pay out leave instead of granting it?
As a rule, no. Leave is meant to be taken, not bought out. The exception is the end of employment, when untaken leave is paid out in cash.
Who decides when I take it?
The employer schedules leave, but by agreement with the employee and with regard to their legitimate interests. It cannot be imposed arbitrarily from one day to the next without any agreement.
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