If you are a graduate about to take up a regular job for the first time, you should be aware of a few facts.
You are working as a student now and the company is hiring you for regular employment: If you have been in an internship programme and the company has offered you regular employment once you have graduated, you will need to arrange for your contract directly with the company. Make sure you study your contract carefully to avoid any surprises later.
You should note that your student card will be valid until 31st October. Up until that date, you will be entitled to discounts for students, in public transport among others.
I didn’t work as a student and now I’m just about to enter my first regular job: If you are so lucky as to have found a job right after you have graduated, you might face questions like:
HOW MUCH WILL I EARN?
If you are an employee in a regular job, what gets deducted from your gross wage includes not just the 15% personal income tax but also the 18.5% social security contribution, which covers your state pension contribution, state health insurance contribution and state jobseeker insurance contribution.
This means that if, for instance, your employment contract says that you will earn a gross wage of HUF250,000, you will take home a net HUF166,250. Note that your employer, too, will pay contributions to the government for you.
I WANT TO GO ON LEAVE. WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW?
Initially, you are entitled to 20 days of paid leave. The number of days is growing as you get older: at age 25, you will get one more day; then at age 28, you will have two extra days; and then by the time you turn 31, you will have been granted three extra days on top of your basic leave. You will also get extra days for your children: for one child under age 16, two days a year; for two children, four days a year; and for more, seven days a year. Note that these days too count as paid leave.
Since paid leave is set for an entire calendar year, if you start working some time during the year the number of days you are entitled to will be reduced proportionally.
WHAT IF I AM TAKEN ILL?
You are entitled to 15 days of sick leave a year. If you fall ill, you will have to visit your doctor and get a doctor’s note to present to your employer. As long as you are on sick leave, you will receive 70% of your wage (salary). Once you have used up all 15 days of sick leave and should be taken ill again, a so called ‘sickness benefit’ kicks in, but it comes with much less money: only 50% or 60% of your wage (salary).
IS THERE A PROBATION PERIOD?
You will generally be on three-month probation when you start working for a new employer. During this time, either party can terminate the employment contract without any consequences. Typically, you will not be entitled to any fringe benefits (‘cafeteria’) while on probation.
I WANT TO QUIT. WHAT SHALL I DO?
First of all, you must give your employer written notice. Once you are no longer on probation, the default notice period is 30 days, but the parties are free to specify any length of time in mutual consent. You are required to offer justification only if you want to quit with immediate effect.
I HAVE BEEN SACKED. WHAT RIGHTS DO I HAVE?
If you are terminated, your employer has to offer justification and relieve you from work for half of the notice period.
The period of employer notice also depends on the length of time you have spent with the employer: e.g. after 3 years spent in a job, 5 days are added to the original notice period; after 15 years, the notice lasts 30 days longer.
AM I ENTITLED TO SEVERANCE PAY?
If you get terminated due to unsatisfactory performance, or due to some behaviour issue (maybe even disciplinary action), you will NOT be entitled to severance money. But you WILL be, if your employer is wound up without a successor-in-interest or has breached your contract. Keep in mind, however, that severance money is paid only after three years of employment. Then, the sum payable shall amount to one month’s wage (salary); after five years, it shall equal to two months’ wages, and after 20 years, it shall be as much as five months’ wages.
