Which Are the Key Indicators for the Existence of an Employment Relationship? – A Detailed Analysis of Case Law in the Republic of Slovenia

Obrisani Korisnik — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 13:28:38 GMT

Aljoša Polajžar, Ph. D., Assistant Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Maribor, Mladinska ulica 9, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia; aljosa.polajzar@um.si; ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-7778-2819

Abstract

The key research objective of this paper is to analyse and compare the relevance of various indicators of the existence of an employment relationship through a detailed analysis of Slovenian case law. We have analysed accessible Slovenian courts’ decisions relating to the (non-)existence of an employment relationship under Article 4 of the Employment Relationship Act (ZDR-1). We conclude, inter alia, that of all the analysed indicators, the question of the worker’s autonomy in organising working time is of paramount importance in determining the existence of an employment relationship. In contrast, indicators that point to the existence of business integration or economic dependence of a worker carry no relevant weight when determining the existence of an employment relationship.

Keywords: existence of an employment relationship; personal dependence; economic dependence; integration of the worker; direction and control; case law; Slovenia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3935/zpfz.75.6.4

Hrčak ID: 345028

URI: https://hrcak.srce.hr/345028

Pages: 945-977

Koji su ključni pokazatelji za postojanje radnog odnosa? – Detaljna analiza sudske prakse Republike Slovenije

Dr. sc. Aljoša Polajžar, docent Pravnog fakulteta Sveučilišta u Mariboru, Mladinska ulica 9, 2000 Maribor, Slovenija; aljosa.polajzar@um.si; ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-7778-2819

Sažetak

Ključni istraživački cilj ovog rada jest analizirati i usporediti relevantnost različitih pokazatelja postojanja radnog odnosa kroz detaljnu analizu slovenske sudske prakse. Analizirali smo dostupne odluke slovenskih sudova koje se odnose na (ne)postojanje radnog odnosa prema članku 4. Zakona o radnim odnosima (ZDR-1). Zaključujemo, među ostalim, da je pitanje autonomije radnika u organizaciji radnog vremena najvažnije od svih analiziranih pokazatelja pri utvrđivanju postojanja radnog odnosa. Nasuprot tomu, pokazatelji koji upućuju na postojanje poslovne integracije ili ekonomske ovisnosti radnika nemaju relevantnu težinu pri utvrđivanju postojanja radnog odnosa.

Ključne riječi: postojanje radnog odnosa; osobna ovisnost; ekonomska ovisnost; integracija radnika; usmjeravanje i kontrola; sudska praksa; Slovenija

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3935/zpfz.75.6.4

Hrčak ID: 345028

URI: https://hrcak.srce.hr/345028

Stranice: 945-977

- ALJOŠA POLAJŽAR

Which Are the Key Indicators for the Existence of an Employment Relationship? – A Detailed Analysis of Case Law in the Republic of Slovenia