Výpoveď (notice of termination) is a one-sided end of an employment contract with a written document: either an employee or an employer can give it. The main thing is not to confuse the výpoveď itself (the act of termination) with the výpovedná lehota (notice period), which is the warning time that passes after the notice is given.
How it works
- An employee can resign without giving a reason; an employer can only do so for reasons stated in the Labor Code (výpovedný dôvod, reason for termination).
- The výpoveď must be in writing and delivered to the other party (doručená), otherwise it is not valid.
- After the výpoveď, the notice period continues, and only after it ends does the contract truly finish.
Do not confuse výpoveď with other methods: dohoda o skončení (termination by mutual agreement) and okamžité skončenie (immediate termination) work differently. In certain cases, when you are terminated by the employer, you are entitled to severance pay (odstupné). Pay attention to deadlines: you can only challenge an illegal výpoveď in court within a limited time, so do not delay seeking advice if you have a questionable notice.
