Why? Not just because it is part of the usual joining process, but mainly because of potential enforcement proceedings and wage deductions affecting your new employee, which could come as an unpleasant surprise later.

What exactly is an employment certificate?

Its official name is certificate of employment, although in everyday Czech it is usually called a “zápočťák”. It is a document that the employer must issue to an employee when employment ends, on the very day they leave.

It is a summary of the departing employee’s record: how long they worked for the previous employer, in what role and, above all, whether they had any enforcement orders or wage deductions. 

If your new employee is subject to enforcement proceedings or insolvency, you as the new employer have a duty to begin making wage deductions and remit them to the relevant enforcement officer or insolvency administrator. This obligation applies from the moment you learn about the enforcement proceedings, which should be through the employment certificate. You must then wait for the enforcement officer’s order or proactively contact the enforcement office as the employer.

Employees facing enforcement proceedings are often not the most reliable members of a team, which is another reason this information signals a need for greater caution. Also, be prepared for deductions to require monthly administrative cooperation with enforcement officers and administrators, which can mean more work for you and your accountant, and therefore higher costs. 

What if there is no employment certificate?

Sometimes an employee does not have the certificate: perhaps it has not been sent yet, they lost it or they fell out with their former employer. What should you do then?

We recommend two options:
1. A declaration

Ask them to sign a declaration that they are not subject to enforcement proceedings or insolvency. We also have an employee onboarding form template ready for our clients: just get in touch and we will be happy to provide it.

2. Check the employee in advance 

On the ISPIS website, you can check whether enforcement proceedings are underway against a person. You only need their first name, surname and date of birth. It is a quick, useful tool not only for employers but also for checking tenants or business partners. How exactly does it work, and what can you learn from it? We will cover that in more detail in a future article. 🙂

A summary: Why you should not forget the employment certificate
  • The employment certificate gives you important information about your new employee from their previous employer.
  • You learn whether to make wage deductions and whether to expect extra administration.
  • If the certificate is missing, request a declaration or, better still, check the employee in advance.




You are not alone in the complicated world of HR: we will cut through the jungle with you.