At the end of January, members of Parliament adopted Amendments to the Employment Relationships Act (ZDR-1C) (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, No. 15/2022) and Amendments to the Health Care and Health Insurance Act (ZZVZZ-R) (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, No. 15/2022). The changes will apply as of March 1, 2022.

A significant change is the shortening of the period of compensation for absence from work due to sickness at the expense of the employer. From the current 30 working days, the amendment to the Employment Relationships act shortens this period to 20 working days for individual absence from work, while also shortening the total period in the calendar year when absence from work is covered by the employer, from the current 120 to 80 days. Meanwhile, the Amendment to the Health Care and Health Insurance Act introduces a provision according to which in cases of temporary inability to work due to an illness or injury not related to work, compensation for lost salary is covered by compulsory health insurance (ZZZS) from the 21st day of absence. The same rules will apply to sole proprietors who bear the burden of the cost of sick leave themselves.

However, there was no change in cases where the employee is unable to work due to a professional illness or injury at work. In such cases, the compensation for lost salary is still covered by the employer for up to 30 working days for each absence from work.