Frequently Asked Questions

I want to travel abroad for work with my spouse. Is that possible?

Yes, it is possible to work as a couple. These offers are for warehouses and production, where you will be provided with accommodation in double rooms.

Is it necessary to have a healthcare course completed to work in Austria?

Yes, in Austria it is required to have the healthcare course.

Do I need a BSN number to work in the Netherlands?

If you’re going to work as a caregiver, you don’t need one. You will work under a Slovak employment contract and pay taxes in Slovakia. If you will be working on a Dutch contract, you will need a BSN number. If you don’t already have one, your Dutch employer will help you with the paperwork.

Will I get a travel allowance even if I provide my own transport?

Yes, of course. However, we will need a dated ticket and the amount from you in order to reimburse you for the transport. Reimbursement of the transport bonus is dealt with as part of the payout.

How much can I earn as a caregiver in Germany?

The salary for a carer in Germany ranges from €1500 to €1850 net. The final amount depends on your level of German language.

Whom can I contact during the weekends if something happens?

There is an emergency service on weekends, so you can get in touch with someone if needed.

Can I travel and work with basic knowledge of German?

It is also possible to travel to Germany and work with a basic knowledge of the German language.

If I travel to another family, do I have to pay for the transfer myself?

If the client has been hospitalized, has gone into a nursing home or passed away, the transfer to the new family is fully covered by ATENA.

What if a patient dies, will I be out of a job? How quickly can you arrange a new family for me if I don’t like the family?

If you want to continue working, we will find you a new client to move to. As we fill more than 100 job vacancies daily, we can provide you with a new job immediately.

When is the payday?

If you work as caregiver, you will receive the salary 5th day of the month. If you work in the manufacturing industry in Slovakia, it depends on the company. The time span ranges from 10th to 15th day of the month.

Can I work as a caregiver in Germany without a health care course?

Yes, you can work in Germany without the course.

When do I get the transport bonus?

You are entitled for this bonus, when you as a carer work on a two-month rotation. It will be taken into account in the next paycheck.

Do I have to come directly to the branch to sign the documents?

It is sufficient to send us the signed documents by email or post.

How often can I draw my advance?

You can draw the advance 2 times a week, Mondays and Thursdays, up to 50% of your time worked. To request it, just contact your responsible consultant.

Do families pay salary in cash at the end of the rotation?

Families in Germany, the Netherlands and England are not responsible for paying out salaries. Salary is paid out by our agency directly to the bank account 5th day of the month. However, In Austria, family pays the caregiver directly, the day they go home or the day before, as they work there as self-employed.

Can I arrange my own transport?

Of course, you can travel with any form of transport, even on your own. However, you must inform your manager before you arrange it. You can also discuss with your contact person which type of transport would suits you the most.

Whom do I call if I have a problem in the family?

You will have your own contact person you can contact. At the same time, we also have an emergency service after office hours as well as on the weekends, when you will always find a responsible person who will be happy to help you if necessary.

Can I visit the doctor if I have an injury in Germany?

Of course you can. Don’t forget to have your European health insurance card with you.

Who will be my employer? The agency or the company?

Each job offer is individual. You can find out which offer is for which contract in the description of that offer. Who your employer will be depends on the specific job offer and the country you choose to work in. In Germany, when you work opatrovateľ, you work on a Slovak contract. For production and warehouse positions, you work on a German contract.

Kto bude mojím zamestnávateľom? Agentúra alebo daná spoločnosť?

Pri každej pracovnej ponuke je to individuálne. To, ktorá ponuka je na akú zmluvu, nájdete v popise danej ponuky. Kto bude Vaším zamestnávateľom, záleží od konkrétnej pracovnej ponuky aj krajiny, v ktorej sa rozhodnete pracovať. V Holandsku pri práci opatrovateľky pracujete na slovenskú aj holandskú zmluvu súčasne. Na pozíciách do výroby a skladov pracujete na holandskú zmluvu.

My friend is looking for a job, if I recommend your company, will I get a reward?

Yes, our company pays from 100€ to 1000€ for referring a friend. The amount depends on the type of position you help us fill in.

If I am interested in working for your company, how should I proceed?

I. Register (free of charge) on our website www.atena.sk and then one of our consultants will contact you by phone. II. Contact us via our free phone line 0800 221 222. We are available Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 16:30.

Are there any fees?

No, you do not pay any registration or mediation fees to our company.

Do I have to attend a personal interview at the office?

It’s not necessary.
You can choose either to come in person to one of our branches (see CONTACT) or to be interviewed over the phone, which is the preferable alternative. However, it depends on the type of employment relationship. If you are interested in temporary work, you need to come to the Banská Bystrica branch in person.

Is it possible to work on a working contract, on an agreement, or on a temporary work agreement for students, or can I work as self-employed?

In the Jobs section, you can select the jobs that suit you using the Job type filter. At ATENA we have job offers suitable for self-traders, students, pensioners, mothers on parental leave, the unemployed and those who want to change jobs for any reason.

Who will be my employer? Your agency or the company?

Each job offer is individual. You can find out which offer is for which contract in the description of that offer. Who your employer will be depends on the specific job offer and the country you choose to work in. Some employers prefer to recruit applicants through an agency first, and others recruit new applicants directly into the tribal workforce. Once employed, there is always the option to transfer to the company’s tribal status.

I am a student. Do you have part-time jobs for me too?

The ATENA employment agency has a wide range of temporary jobs for students. You can find them all on our website www.atena.sk in the Jobs section.

What level of German is required to work in Germany?

A basic knowledge of the German language is sufficient for working in Germany, i.e. level A1. But as a opatrovateľ, pay depends on your language level. The higher your level, the more you earn.

The language test is free of charge and it is possible for us to test your language skills in person at one of our branches or even over the phone.

Who will arrange my transport?

Transport is provided by the ATENA employment agency if you go to work as a caregiver. In the case of a job offer in production or warehouses, the employee provides their own transport.

What is the length of the tours in Germany?

In Germany, the length of the rotations ranges from 2 to 3 months as a standard. However, it is also possible to travel on a temporary basis, in which case it is individual, for example for a week.

How quickly can I travel abroad for work?

It is also possible to travel immediately. The speed of your departure depends mainly on your language skills and caregivingexperience.

Do I need to do a nursing course to work in England?

It isn’t. Most companies provide free training where you will not only have theory but also model situations.

How much can I earn as a nanny in England?

The minimum guaranteed earnings are 1900€ net.

What about transport and reimbursement of travel costs to England?

It depends on the offer received. If you are working rotationsSlovak contract, we can buy you a plane ticket or bus ticket, and the amount will be deducted from your first paycheck. In the case of employment on an English contract, the client pays for her own travel. It is possible to travel by plane or bus. You will always need to show your ticket or airline ticket before you leave for the UK, so that we can arrange for a person to pick you up at the airport or station (if the business partner is arranging the pick-up).

What you have rotationswith 24-hour care?

We have different lengths of tours. 14, 60, 90 days, or depending on the offer.

What level of English is required?

A communicative level of English (B2) in both written and spoken is required for England.

Who pays my wages?

It depends on the offer received. If you work on a Slovak employment contract, we will send you your salary. If you work on a foreign (German, Dutch) contract, your salary will be paid by your foreign employer.

Do I need a passport to travel to England?

As the UK is no longer part of the European Union, a visa and passport are both required to travel.

How quickly can I travel?

The speed of your departure depends mainly on your language skills and caregivingexperience.

When will I get a job offer?

First, we need to check your language skills so that we can offer you one of the available positions. For each position, there is a foreign language proficiency requirement that you must meet in order to be considered for the position. All job vacancies can be found at www.atena.sk. You can also nominate yourself for the job. However, you need to be registered on our website, which is of course free of charge.

What about insurance if I go to work in England?

In England, your partner will help you get a National Insurance Number (NIN). This number stays with you for life and is only valid in England. An NIN is a unique number assigned specifically to you by the UK Department for Work and Social Care. Having an NIN allows you to work, pay tax and use public services in England. Your NIN is also used to calculate tax and National Insurance on your earnings and as a reference number in the UK’s tax credits and benefits system. You will need to use your NIN for all communications with HM Revenue and Customs and the Department for Work and Social Care.

Is it necessary to take a caregiving course to work in the Netherlands?

It depends on the offer. Some clients require caregiverwith a caregivercourse, but this is not a requirement for every offer.

What kind of cooperation is possible with your agency if I want to work in the Netherlands?

There are two options. You will either be an employee of a Dutch company or work on our agency’s contract. 90% of the offers are for Slovak employment contracts.

How much can I earn as a nanny in the Netherlands?

The minimum guaranteed earnings are 1750€ net.

What about transport and reimbursement of travel costs to the Netherlands?

In the case of rotationsSlovak contract, we can arrange transport directly from the place of residence to the client’s house in the Netherlands (air ticket or bus ticket) and the amount will be deducted from the first paycheck.

We have different tours, but the minimum is 6 weeks and the maximum is 6 months.

Is it possible to travel for work as a substitute?

Yes, we also have offers for substitutes.

What level of English is required?

For the Netherlands they require communicative English at B2 level, in some cases they can accept caregiverwith a lower level – B1. For job offers in the manufacturing industry, a basic knowledge of English is sufficient. For some offers, you only need to know Polish or German.

How is the foreign language examination conducted?

You can be tested over the phone from the comfort of your own home, or we can test you in person at our branch in Banská Bystrica. The trial is free of charge. The manager in charge will call you and ask you a few questions so that we know, and you know, what kind of work we can offer you.

If you work for a Slovak work. contract, we’ll send you your wages.

What should I do if I have to leave my family urgently?

You need to contact your manager and stay with the family until we can find a replacement for you.

Your speed of departure depends mainly on your language skills and care experience.

When will I get a job offer?

First, we need to check your language skills so that we can offer you one of the available positions. For each position, there is a foreign language proficiency requirement that you must meet in order to be considered for the position. All job vacancies can be found at www.atena.sk . You can also nominate yourself for the job. However, registration is required on our website, which is of course free of charge.

What kind of cooperation is possible with your agency when working in Germany?

In Germany, you work on a Slovak working contract, which entitles you to all social benefits such as holiday pay, sick leave, pension, etc.

Your salary is paid by the employment agency ATENA – PERSONAL CONSULTING s.r.o on account.

As we fill more than 100 job offers every day, we can provide you with a new job immediately.

How am I insured if I travel to Germany?

Social and health contributions are paid in Slovakia according to the legislation in force in the Slovak Republic.

Who can help me with the education recognition?

Our employment agency ATENA will help you with the recognition of your education.

How long does it take to arrange recognition of education?

It takes from 3 months to process the recognition of education.

If you work as a carer in Austria, you must have an active trade so the family can receive care allowance. If you work on a Slovak employment contract, you are registered as our employee with the Austrian authorities.

How much can I earn as a caregiverin Austria?

It is individual. The amount of daily earnings ranges from €60 to €120. It depends on whether they pay their own levies as well as other factors.

How much do I pay to set up a business?

This depends on the federal state you work in. However, if it is a newly established trade, you pay nothing. All you have to do is stop by the WKO when they ask you to and sign the papers. If you have had a trade before and want to set up again, you pay a fee. In this case, a cheque will arrive at your home from WKO.

Who pays my wages in Austria?

As the caregiverwork here is done on a freelance basis, the money will be paid directly to your family at the end of rotation or you will receive it in your bank account. In the event that your wages will be transferred to your account, we will notify you in advance.

How about insurance?

As you work for an Austrian trade, you pay your social security and health insurance in Austria. Your premium cheque is sent to you by the relevant Austrian insurance company.

First of all, you need to apply for health insurance in Slovakia. As your trade will not be suspended or cancelled, you must submit a Slovak employment contract with your application. In addition, you will fill in the E104 form.