Poland to overhaul Length of Service calculations, Impacting Millions of Workers
Warsaw, Poland – A forthcoming change in Polish regulations will broaden the definition of length of service to include periods of civil law contracts and self-employment, possibly benefiting millions of workers and presenting important organizational challenges for employers. The reform aims to provide greater equity in benefits and opportunities previously largely reserved for those in customary full-time employment.
Under the current system, length of service primarily considers traditional employment contracts. The new rules will allow individuals to include time spent working under civil law contracts or running thier own businesses when calculating their total professional experience.This could enable many employees to surpass the 10-year threshold, granting them the right to 26 days of annual leave. it may also lead to extended notice periods and eligibility for severance pay during layoffs.
The change is also expected to improve access to recruitment in public administration and state institutions. Candidates previously excluded due to a lack of formally documented experience will now be able to leverage their complete work history.
Though, the shift places a burden on employers. HR departments will need to audit historical documentation to identify eligible employees and update payroll and HR systems to accommodate the new data. Training will be required for teams responsible for calculating allowances, and internal interaction strategies must be developed.
Employers also anticipate potential increases in costs related to vacation days and severance payments, as well as the need to reassess recruitment criteria and potentially adjust remuneration levels.
“From the employers’ point of view, this is a time of major changes and challenges, primarily organizational ones,” stated Krzysztof Inglot. “Early preparation will be crucial to avoid chaos… it is worth looking at these changes as an opportunity… to organize processes, increase transparency and build a stronger employment culture.”
