Wellbeing at work comes down to two things: the conditions your employer sets and the habits you choose every day. Regular breaks, clear tasks, good relationships with colleagues and a firm line between work and free time make the biggest difference. In Slovenia, employees have a legal right to a paid break and rest periods, and every employer must plan workplace health promotion.
What shapes wellbeing at work
We spend a large part of our adult lives at work, so the working environment has a strong effect on physical and mental health. Slovenia’s Labour Inspectorate dedicated the 2026 World Day for Safety and Health at Work to a healthy psychosocial working environment. Among the factors that erode wellbeing, it lists stress, overload, time pressure, poor relationships, lack of support, poor communication and unclear job demands.
The consequences go beyond a bad mood. Long-term strain leads to burnout, more mistakes and a higher risk of accidents. The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work estimates that 50 to 60% of lost working days can be attributed to stress and unmanaged psychosocial risks. Slovenia’s National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ) also notes that sick leave for mental and behavioural disorders is among the longest.
Everyday habits that genuinely help
We cannot always change our working conditions, but we can change how we spend the working day. These habits take little time, and you will notice the difference within a few weeks:
- Make your break a real break. Lunch at the keyboard is not rest. Get up, step outside or at least go to a window, and put your phone down for a few minutes.
- Move while you work. If you sit, stand up every hour, stretch your neck and shoulders and take the stairs instead of the lift. A short walk after lunch clears the head.
- Set up your workstation. Keep the screen at eye level, use a chair that supports your back and keep your feet flat on the floor. Good light and fresh air reduce fatigue.
- Drink water and eat regularly. Hunger and thirst quickly show up as irritability and poorer focus.
- Set limits on messages. Agree on when you are reachable and turn off work email notifications after hours.
- Plan your day. Three main tasks in the morning and a short review at the end of the day ease the feeling that work is running you over.
- Look after relationships. A coffee with a colleague, a word of praise or help with a task build trust that pays off in tense periods.
Breaks and rest: what Slovenian law gives you
Slovenia’s Employment Relationships Act (ZDR-1) guarantees employees a break during work as well as daily and weekly rest. These are not perks an employer can withdraw because there is a lot of work.
| Entitlement | How much | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Break during work | 30 minutes for full-time work | Counts as working time. It can be scheduled only after the first hour of work and no later than one hour before the end. |
| Break for part-time work | In proportion to working hours | Applies if you work at least 4 hours a day. |
| Daily rest | At least 12 consecutive hours | At least 11 hours where working time is unevenly distributed. |
| Weekly rest | At least 24 uninterrupted hours | Once every seven days, in addition to daily rest. |
These rest periods are not just a legal formality. Anyone who regularly cuts short the rest between two shifts does not get enough sleep, and lack of sleep is one of the fastest routes to exhaustion.
What employers must do
Slovenia’s Occupational Safety and Health Act (ZVZD-1) requires employers to provide safe and healthy working conditions and to assess risks, including psychosocial ones. On top of that, every employer must plan and carry out workplace health promotion, fund it and monitor how it is implemented. Failing to meet these duties can bring a fine of EUR 2,000 to EUR 40,000.
Health promotion means systematic activities to protect and strengthen employees’ physical and mental health. The plan should be based on an analysis of employees’ health and needs, and taking part should be voluntary. The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work explains how even small companies can approach it in its guide to workplace health promotion (Slovenian version).
How you can get involved
- Ask whether your company has a health promotion plan and what it offers (for example exercise sessions, stress management workshops or flexible hours).
- Suggest what would genuinely help you: better chairs, a quiet room for focused work, clearer instructions or a shared movement break.
- Report problems early to your manager, HR, a workers’ representative or your union. According to the inspectorate, it is employees who should flag problems and take part in improvements.
When stress is no longer normal
Some tension before a deadline is normal. The warning signs are different: lasting fatigue that not even a weekend fixes, sleep problems, frequent headaches, cynicism about work, a sense of being ineffective and withdrawing from people. If they last for several weeks, do not wait for them to pass on their own.
- Talk to someone you trust and raise the overload openly with your manager.
- See your GP, who can assess your condition and sign you off sick if needed.
- In Slovenia you can contact the mental health centre at your local health centre without a referral.
- The free helpline 116 123 is there for a conversation at any time; in immediate danger, call 112.
Slovenia’s national mental health programme Mira also publishes materials for employees and employers at zadusevnozdravje.si. Stress at work is not a personal weakness but often the result of how work is organised, which is why it can and should be tackled together.
Frequently asked questions
Is the break during work paid in Slovenia?
Yes. Under Slovenia’s Employment Relationships Act, the 30-minute break for full-time employees counts as working time, so the employer may not deduct it from your pay.
Does every employer need a workplace health promotion plan?
In Slovenia, yes. The Occupational Safety and Health Act requires all employers to plan health promotion at work, provide funds for it and monitor how it is carried out. Breaches can be fined from EUR 2,000 to EUR 40,000.
Where can I turn if work is wearing me down?
Start with your GP, who can assess your condition and sign you off sick if needed. In Slovenia you can also contact a mental health centre at your local health centre without a referral, and the free helpline 116 123 is available around the clock.
What can I do if my employer ignores breaks and rest periods?
Raise it with your manager or HR first, and ask your trade union or workers’ representative for support. If nothing changes, you can report it to Slovenia’s Labour Inspectorate.
