Do I have to work overtime, and what do I get for it?
They can order 150 hours a year — above that you may refuse, with no consequences. Under § 97(5) of the Labour Code an employer may order overtime without your consent up to a maximum of 150 hours in a calendar year. Above 150 hours, an agreement is required — and if you refuse, it must carry no consequences for you. The absolute ceiling is 400 hours a year, and only by agreement. The premium is at least 25% of average earnings for every overtime hour; where the overtime falls on a day of uninterrupted weekly rest, it is at least 35%. Overtime also may not exceed an average of 8 hours a week over at most 4 consecutive months.
📋 The rules
- At most 150 hours a year can be ordered (§ 97(5))
- Above 150 hours only by agreement — refusal is free of consequences
- Absolute ceiling: 400 hours a year
- Premium: at least 25% of average earnings
- On a day of uninterrupted rest: at least 35%
🔓 Exceptions
- Healthcare workers: up to 400 hours by agreement under § 121(8)
- Overtime may not exceed an average of 8 hours a week over at most 4 months
- By agreement with employee representatives the reference period can run to 12 months
⚠️ Penalties & fines
The commonest wrong reading goes: "overtime is built into a manager's salary", or "the premium is already in your pay". It is not — the premium is calculated on top and must appear separately on the payslip. The second error is that overtime must always be worked. Above 150 hours a year you may refuse, and the refusal must not carry consequences — not in pay, not in appraisal. Exceeding the caps and withholding the premium breach the Labour Code and are sanctioned by the labour inspectorate; a report can be filed anonymously. Keep your time records and payslips — without them the dispute is hard to prove.
📎 Official sources
- Slov-Lex · Labour Code (§ 97, § 121) →
- National Labour Inspectorate →
- Ministry of Labour · Working time and pay →
❓ Frequently asked
How much overtime can be ordered?
At most 150 hours in a calendar year, and that without your consent, under § 97(5) of the Labour Code. Above that limit an agreement is needed, and refusing it must carry no consequences for you.
What is the overtime premium?
At least 25% of average earnings for every hour of overtime worked. Where the overtime falls on a day of uninterrupted weekly rest, the premium is at least 35% of average earnings.
What is the absolute cap?
Four hundred hours a year, and only by agreement with the employee. Overtime also may not exceed an average of eight hours a week across at most four consecutive months.
Can the premium be "included in my salary"?
No. The overtime premium is calculated on top of your pay and must appear separately on the payslip. The claim that it is already folded into the salary is common among employers but wrong.
Can I refuse overtime?
Above 150 hours a year, yes — and the refusal must carry no consequences, in pay or in appraisal. Up to 150 hours, the employer can order it without your consent.
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