Working in Poland on Christmas Eve, December 24, will be penalized

In 2025, Poland will officially recognize Christmas Eve as a state holiday for the first time, which means strict work restrictions for most employees. Changes to the Labor Code will come into effect this year and will introduce fines for employers who do not comply with the new regulations. This was reported by In Poland.

Who is allowed to work

The Polish government is establishing a clear list of exceptions for sectors that ensure the functionality of cities and critical services. Other sectors will be prohibited from working on Christmas Eve. The following are allowed to work:

• emergency services, transport and communication, security, social and medical institutions, staff of public catering, culture, tourism, and hospitality.

All employers who will engage personnel on December 24 are required to provide a compensatory day off by December 31.

Strictest rules apply to trade

The new regulations will impact shops the most. The law completely prohibits sales and the work of staff, even if the employee is employed under a civil law contract. Exceptions are only provided for points of sale at stations, ports, or in duty-free zones.

For violating these requirements, the employer faces fines ranging from 1,000 to 100,000 zlotys. The amount of the fine will depend on the scale of the violation and the number of employees involved in the work.

If you are interested in working in Poland, we suggest checking 350,000 job vacancies on the Layboard portal.

Employment expert Vitaliy Belenets explains that these changes will primarily affect Ukrainians who traditionally work in trade and services:

«Many will have to adjust their schedules. For some employees, this is a reduction in the hourly rate, but the law provides for a compensatory day off. Importantly, the authorities emphasize adherence to labor rights, and these rules are designed to ensure that employers do not abuse contracts and do not force people to work on holidays.»

Businesses are advised to prepare in advance

The National Labor Inspectorate in Poland is already urging enterprises to assess their processes and adapt schedules in advance. Officials emphasize that the new rules have an organizational rather than a punitive nature - they aim to ensure equal conditions and compliance with the festive day throughout the country.