How Work Seniority Will Be Calculated in Poland from 2026: What's Changing?

How Work Seniority Will Be Calculated in Poland from 2026: What's Changing?

From 1 January 2026, new rules for calculating work seniority will come into force in Poland. This means that seniority will now include not only employment under an employment contract (Umowa o pracę), but also work under civil law contracts (Umowa zlecenia), self-employment, childcare leave, and other forms of work.

What Does This Mean in Practice?

Once the new regulations take effect, the following periods will also count toward work seniority:

• running an agricultural business or cooperating with a person who does so;
• suspension of business activity for the purpose of childcare;
• performing work under mandate contracts, service agreements, or agency contracts;
• membership in agricultural cooperatives;
• documented paid work abroad (outside of a formal employment relationship).

Benefits for Employees

Thanks to these changes, many people will gain access to social and employment benefits that were previously available only to those employed under a standard employment contract. These include:

• longer paid leave entitlements

• long-service awards

• seniority bonuses

• higher pension payments.

Employees will also be able to apply for a recalculation of their work seniority taking into account the new provisions.

How to Confirm Your Seniority

Confirmation of employment periods will be carried out by the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS). In cases where ZUS does not have the relevant data, the employee may submit their own documents — certificates, contracts, or other proof of the employment period.