The Polish Sejm has supported significant changes to labor legislation that strengthen protection for employees against mobbing and discrimination at work. The new rules simplify the proof of psychological pressure, introduce additional obligations for employers, and increase guarantees for affected employees. This is reported by InPoland.
Mobbing definition simplified in Poland
236 deputies voted for changes to the Labor Code and the Civil Procedure Code. 24 parliamentarians opposed it, and 178 abstained.
One of the main innovations is the updated definition of mobbing.
From now on, mobbing will be considered as repeated or systematic actions by:
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supervisor;
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colleague;
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subordinate;
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individual;
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group of individuals.
Such actions may include physical, verbal, or non-verbal pressure. Moreover, to recognize the fact of mobbing, it is no longer necessary to prove the offender's intent or the occurrence of specific consequences for the victim.
Mobbing will also be recognized as an order or encouragement to such behavior.
What rights employees will receive
Employees who have suffered from mobbing will be able to demand compensation from their employer.
The minimum compensation amount will be no less than six minimum wages.
Separately, the law strengthens the protection of employees who report violations of labor rights. They should not suffer negative consequences due to complaints or participation in a case review.
New guarantees will also extend to colleagues who support the affected individual or act as witnesses.
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What new obligations employers will have
After the law comes into effect, employers will be required to create internal rules to combat mobbing.
In particular, companies must:
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develop procedures for responding to complaints;
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implement preventive measures;
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define a procedure for addressing appeals;
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provide support to affected employees.
At the same time, the law provides that the employer may avoid liability if they can prove that they fulfilled all preventive obligations and that the mobbing was not initiated by the company's management. In this case, the employee will be able to claim compensation directly from the guilty party.
In addition to combating mobbing, the new regulations clarify the concept of discrimination and strengthen protection for employees against unequal treatment in the workplace.
It is worth noting that in Poland, 441 foreign doctors lost their right to work.