Starting January 1, 2026, a pilot phase of the reduced working hours program has begun in Poland. The initiative was launched by the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Policy of Poland. It provides the opportunity to work fewer hours or four days a week without a loss of salary. This is reported by “InPoland”.
Four-day work week in Poland: pilot conditions
The pilot program will last from January 1 to December 31, 2026. 90 employers from across the country have joined the initiative, including public institutions and private companies. A total of over 5,000 employees are involved in the project.
As previously mentioned by Minister Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk, the goal of the initiative is to check how reducing working time affects work efficiency, organizational functioning, and employee well-being.
The program does not establish a single model. Employers can choose the format that meets their needs:
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four-day work week, including having Fridays off;
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shortened workday to 6-7 hours;
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additional days off throughout the month;
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extended annual leave;
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hybrid solutions combining several formats.
If you are interested in work in Poland, we invite you to check 350,000 job vacancies on the Layboard portal.
Funding and next steps
Participation in the program must cover at least half of the employees, while a reduction in wages is prohibited throughout the pilot period. A significant portion of the participants are local government bodies, who assure that thanks to digitalization, residents will not experience a decline in service quality.
Employers can receive funding up to 1 million zlotys, with the average support amounting to about 500 thousand zlotys, and no more than 20 thousand zlotys per employee. Funds are allocated from the Labor Fund, and the total program budget for 2025-2027 amounts to 50 million zlotys.
Final reports and survey results must be submitted by employers by May 15, 2027. After that, the government will decide whether reduced working hours will become a permanent practice and whether the Labor Code needs to be amended.
Let us remind you that from the beginning of 2026, Ukrainians working in Poland can expect income growth due to the increase in the minimum wage and a labor shortage. As of January 1, 2026, an increase in the minimum wage to 4600-4800 zlotys gross is planned in Poland.