Slovak Republic
[Updated 3/27/23] Employees in Slovakia consider sickness benefits as the number one employee benefit. Sickness benefits are quite generous in certain circumstances. If an employee needs to take care of a close relative or a female employee transfers to a lesser-paid position due to medical reasons during pregnancy, they will receive 55% of their daily income.
Country Insight
Average Cost
The average monthly cost for a typical benefits package is 35% of gross salary. The average gross salary in Slovakia is €1,500 per month.
Mandatory employee benefits in Slovakia include pension, legislative leaves, and unemployment insurance. Supplementary employee benefits in Slovakia, or perks, include company cars, additional vacation days, and group life insurance.
Mandatory Employee Benefits in Slovakia
Pension
Pension funding in Slovakia is based on mandatory contributions from salary. Both the employer and employee have to contribute, and the system is very much automated. The compulsory system has 2 pillars. The 1st pillar contributions are paid to the state fund called Socialna poistovna (the Social Insurance Agency). The 2nd pillar offers choices consisting of Socialna poistovna or several other private licensed providers. Each provider offers several investment funds with varying degrees of investment risk.
The pension system also has a voluntary 3rd pillar. It is up to the employer to decide to offer contributions to the 3rd pillar. For some hazardous occupations, such as miners, the 3rd pillar is compulsory. There are only private providers for the 3rd pillar savings and they also offer several types of funds, similar to the 2nd pillar.
Legislation Leaves / Paid Time Off
There are certain short-term leaves (illness leave, funeral leave, study leave, doctor visit leave, and others) granted and paid in whole or partly paid by the Social Insurance Agency and/or the employer. Long-term Maternity Leave (or Parental Leave, since this can be taken by the father as well) is also available. This can last typically up to 3 years, but also longer, if the child requires special care.
Paid vacation per year is 20 days by law. For employees older than 33 years, vacation time is 25 days.
Unemployment Insurance
When unemployed, the respective person can register at the unemployment office. If unemployment insurance contribution was paid for 730 days at least over the past 3 years, they have the right to get financial support for a maximum of 6 months. Contribution is a mandatory part of the taxes paid by the employee and employer based on the salary.
Workplace Canteens or Meal Vouchers
The employer is obliged to arrange for lunch (or another type of meal, depending on the respective operation, such as the 24h/7days shifts) or to offer meal vouchers instead. The employer must bear 55% of the costs at a minimum. Many employers offer more, up to 100%. The minimum value of the vouchers is prescribed by the government.
Supplementary Employee Benefits & Perks
There are various perks offered in Slovakia, and the most common and well-perceived are a company car also for private use, sickness leave days, additional vacation days, group life/accident insurance, a company apartment, and a cafeteria. Rarely offered perks include a company kindergarten, free snacks, and entertainment rooms This always depends on the employee’s position in the company.
This information about employee benefits in Slovakia is provided by MAI CEE, Asinta’s employee benefit consulting Partner in Slovakia.