Czech labour rules on vacation recall and early retirement clarified

Employers in the Czech Republic may recall an employee from approved leave only when an unforeseen, serious operational problem arises that cannot be resolved without the employee. In such cases the employer must reimburse all verifiable costs incurred by the worker, including cancellation fees, lost prepaid travel expenses and, if the employee returns after the issue is resolved, the cost of the return trip. If an employee becomes ill during vacation, the sick leave interrupts the vacation; the affected days can be taken later, provided a medical certificate is presented. The same principle applies to illnesses contracted abroad, although documentation may need to be validated by Czech social security authorities.

From January 2026, Czech citizens can retire up to three years before the statutory pension age if they have at least 40 years of pension insurance, which includes regular employment and certain substitute periods such as child‑care, military service and unemployment benefits. Those with a minimum of 45 years of insurance will see the pension reduction rate halved to 0.75 % per started 90‑day block, rather than the standard 1.5 %. The early pension cannot be combined with continued employment, self‑employment, unemployment benefits or other income that generates pension contributions, and only a modest supplementary income is permitted.