Poland Proposes Longer Annual Leave: Who Benefits and by How Much?

According to Bezprawnik.pl, Poland may be set to change the duration of annual leave. A proposal is currently being considered in the Sejm that would increase the number of paid vacation days for public sector employees. The authors of the initiative believe this could be one of the factors making work in public institutions more attractive.

State institutions in Poland have long struggled to attract and retain qualified employees. Despite job stability, salaries in the public sector are generally lower than in private companies. As a result, alternative means of motivation are being explored — including expanding non-financial benefit packages.

Currently, employees in Poland are entitled to 20 or 26 days of paid annual leave depending on their length of service. Certain groups of workers (such as teachers or judges) operate under different rules, raising questions about the fairness of the system.

The initiative, submitted by the Chief Labour Inspector, currently concerns only employees of the National Labour Inspectorate (Państwowa Inspekcja Pracy — PIP). According to the submitted petition, the proposed entitlements are:

• 26 days of leave from the first day of employment;
• 29 days after 10 years of service at PIP;
• 32 days after 20 years of service.

The proposal aims to reduce staff turnover and retain employees within the structures responsible for monitoring working conditions. According to the publication, if the legislative changes are adopted, similar measures may be discussed for other government bodies as well.

It is worth noting that this is not the first attempt to change working conditions in the public sector. Poland has previously tested four-day workweek models in selected local government units. According to local administrations, these measures contributed to a better work-life balance, reduced sick leave, and easier filling of vacancies.

Parliamentary discussions also touch on the issue of unifying annual leave entitlements for all employees — both in the public and private sectors. As part of a broader reform, the introduction of additional rest days for people over 50, or the possibility of extended leave after many years with a single employer, is also being considered.

The decision on expanding leave entitlements is currently at the parliamentary review stage. If the changes are approved, they will require amendments to the Labour Code and will affect staffing policies in public institutions.

Based on materials from Bezprawnik.pl.