Electronic medical certificate (eNeschopenka)

As of 1 January 2020, an electronic medical certificate or eNeschopenka is being introduced to replace the existing medical certificates in paper form. The declared aim is to reduce the administrative burden and to speed up the flow of information between sick employees, practitioners, employers and the ČSSZ (Social security office).

Employees continue to be obliged to immediately report the start and the end of their temporary incapacity to work (a sick leave) to their employer. The method of informing the employer is not specified and it is recommended to define it in an internal regulation. The employer will be informed about the start, duration and end of an employee‘s sick leave electronically via the ČSSZ in the form of notifications and access to the ePortal.

If the duration of a sick leave exceeds 14 days, the employer is obliged to electronically send the “Annex to the benefit application”. Upon the end of a sick leave, the employer shall electronically send the form “Report of an employer / voluntaryly sickness insuranced individual reg. the end of a sick leave”.

It should be noted that in the case of sick leaves issued in a paper form prior to 1 January 2020, it will be proceeded as before the introduction of the new law. However, if an employee is recognized as unable to work retroactively, e.g., on 2 January 2020 the employee is recognized ill from 31 December 2019, then the electronic procedure applies. The decisive factor is therefore the date of recognition of incapacity for work, not the date of its start.

Other benefits, i.e., maternity, paternity, nursing, long-term nursing and compensatory benefits in pregnancy and maternity as well as quarantine are not affected by the new legislation and the procedures remain unchanged.