Starting from January 1, 2027, employees in Poland who have multiple jobs will only be able to receive sick leave for the job they cannot perform due to health reasons. At the same time, working for another employer will only be allowed under certain conditions. This is reported by In Poland.
The new rules do not mean that every employee will be free to work during their sick leave. The decision will depend on the nature of the illness, the type of work, and the position of the doctor issuing the sick leave.
Sick Leave in Poland Can Be Taken for One Job Starting in 2027
Currently, if a person has multiple grounds for insurance – for example, working under an employment contract in two companies or combining work with employment and a contract of mandate – incapacity for work usually covers all jobs.
From January 1, 2027, a doctor, at the request of a patient, will be able to not issue a sick leave for one of the jobs. This will be possible if the person's health allows them to perform other duties and such activity does not interfere with recovery.
For example, an employee who cannot perform physical work due to an injury may potentially continue remote office work for another employer. The Ministry cites the example of a surgeon with a broken finger: they cannot operate but can teach at a university.
In such a situation, the employee must inform the contributor who has the right to pay the benefits about the period of sick leave issued under another insurance title. The key rule is that work at another place must be compatible with the person’s health condition.
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L4 Rules in Poland Have Already Changed Since April 2026
As of April 13, 2026, Poland has new clarified rules for monitoring the use of sick leave. Employers with up to 20 insured employees now have the ability to verify whether an employee is using their L4 properly.
Inspectors can establish the identity of the employee, obtain explanations, and, if there are grounds, conduct checks at the employee's location. At the same time, monitoring should not interfere with treatment or violate the individual's privacy.
An employee who performs paid work or engages in activities contradictory to the purpose of recovery during L4 risks losing their entitlement to assistance for the entire period of sick leave. However, incidental actions do not automatically equate to a violation.
Responding to an urgent work email, a brief phone call, or signing an important document is not considered paid work if it does not involve regular performance of professional duties and does not harm recovery.
The reform is being implemented gradually. It aims to make L4 rules clearer for employees and employers, but does not cancel the main principle: sick leave is designed for recovery, not for full-time work.
Let us remind you that Poland aims to impose 30-year sentences for army violations.