THE MISUSE of sick leave in Slovakia decreased considerably in Slovakia last year. The average sick leave rate fell from 5.1 percent to 3.7 percent year-on-year, particularly because of the new legislation, the Národná Obroda daily reported.
According to the new laws, employers pay for the first 10 days of employees' sick leave and only if the sick leave lasts longer does the Sociálna poisťovňa (SP) social insurer start to pay.
Many employees now prefer taking a few days off rather than taking official sick leave because it is more advantageous for them financially.
"As a result they do not have enough days for a proper holiday, which can later have a negative impact on their health," said Ladislav Pásztor, the president of the Chamber of Private Doctors.
