Working in Poland as an expat means dealing with the Kodeks pracy — the Polish Labour Code. Understanding your rights and obligations protects you from surprises and helps you negotiate better. Here are the essentials for 2026.
Umowa o pracę — The Employment Contract
All employees working under an umowa o pracę (employment contract) enjoy full statutory protections. This is distinct from civil law contracts (umowa zlecenia, umowa o dzieło) used for freelancers or contractors, which carry fewer protections. If you are hired as an employee, insist on an umowa o pracę — it entitles you to paid leave, sick pay, notice periods and other benefits.
The contract must be provided in writing before the start of your first working day. It must state: parties, type, start date, job position, place of work, working hours and salary.
Annual Leave Entitlement
Every employee on umowa o pracę is entitled to paid annual leave:
- 20 days per year if you have worked a total of less than 10 years (all employment combined, anywhere).
- 26 days per year once you cross 10 years of total employment experience.
Leave accrues monthly: 1/12 of the annual entitlement per month worked. Unused leave can generally be carried over to the next year, but must be used by 30 September of that following year or it may expire. You cannot receive a cash payout in lieu of leave while still employed — only upon termination.
Notice Periods
When either party terminates an umowa o pracę, statutory minimum notice periods apply based on the employee's total tenure with that specific employer:
- 2 weeks — employed for less than 6 months.
- 1 month — employed for at least 6 months but less than 3 years.
- 3 months — employed for 3 years or more.
During the notice period the employer can release you from the duty to work (garden leave) while still paying your full salary. Your contract cannot set a shorter notice period than the statutory minimum — any such clause is void. Longer periods may be agreed upon in writing.
Sick Pay (Zasiłek Chorobowy)
If you fall ill, you are entitled to sick pay:
- First 33 days of illness per calendar year: paid by the employer at 80% of your reference salary. If you are over 50 years old, the employer pays for the first 14 days only.
- From day 34 (or day 15 for those over 50): ZUS (Social Insurance Institution) takes over payment, still at 80%.
- 100% of salary: applies if the illness is caused by a workplace accident, occurs during pregnancy, or during the 14-day quarantine period established by law.
The sick leave must be documented with an electronic sick note (e-ZLA), issued directly to ZUS and your employer by the doctor.
Overtime Rules and Supplements
The standard working week in Poland is 40 hours (8 hours per day, 5 days per week). Any hours beyond this constitute overtime. Employees are entitled to overtime supplements:
- 50% supplement on top of normal pay for overtime worked on weekdays and Saturdays.
- 100% supplement for overtime on Sundays, public holidays, and night hours.
Alternatively, the employer may offer time off in lieu of payment (equal time for weekday overtime, 1.5× time for Sunday/holiday overtime). Total overtime cannot exceed 150 hours per calendar year unless a collective agreement or individual contract raises this limit (max 416 hours per year).
Minimum Wage 2026
Poland has set the following minimum wage levels for 2026:
- 4,666 PLN gross per month from 1 January 2026.
- 4,800 PLN gross per month from 1 July 2026 (if confirmed by regulation).
The minimum hourly rate is 30.50 PLN (from January). No employer may pay an employee on umowa o pracę less than these amounts — it applies regardless of your nationality. Part-time employees receive the minimum wage pro-rated to their working hours.
Quick Tips for Expats
- Always get your contract in writing before starting work.
- Keep copies of all payslips (paski plac) — they are proof of your ZUS contributions.
- If you suspect violations, contact the Państwowa Inspekcja Pracy (PIP) — the Labour Inspectorate — which provides free advice and enforcement.
- Both EU and non-EU citizens working legally in Poland are covered by the Labour Code without exception.
Use our salary calculator to see exactly how much you will receive net from your gross salary, and our overtime calculator to check your overtime supplement entitlements.