Short-time work in Poland – opportunity or risk? What do employees and employers think?
- dariakalenikova
- Sep 15
- 2 min read
Discussions about shortening the workweek in Poland have been ongoing for months. The Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Policy has announced a pilot program, "Short-Time Work – It's Happening!", under which selected companies will be able to test shorter working hours without reducing salaries.
🧭 Pilot assumptions
Application deadline: August 14–September 15, 2025.
Who can participate: Private companies, public institutions, NGOs, and local governments.
Participation requirements:
operating for at least 12 months prior to submitting the application,
employing at least 75% of the workforce under employment contracts,
involving at least 50% of the workforce in the pilot program,
maintaining employment at a level of at least 90%,
no salary reduction despite reduced working hours.
Financial support:
up to PLN 1 million per pilot project,
up to PLN 20,000 per employee,
total pilot budget: PLN 50 million (approximately PLN 10 million available in 2025).
Schedule:
Preparatory phase – by December 31, 2025,
Field testing – from January 1 to December 31, 2026,
Final report – by May 15, 2027.
📊 What the research says – the voice of employees
Although the idea itself is popular, Poles have mixed feelings about a shorter workweek.
76% of Poles have heard of the government's project.
57% consider a four-day workweek the most attractive option.
At the same time, many fear that shortened working hours would actually mean lower wages – despite government assurances.
Some respondents also point to organizational risks: difficulties in scheduling shifts, a greater burden on employers, and pressure from shorter workdays.
⚖️ Potential benefits and challenges for companies
Benefits:
✅ Increased employee efficiency and creativity,
✅ Lower absenteeism and fewer errors,
✅ Strengthening the company's image as a modern employer.
Challenges:
⚠️ Reorganization of production processes and schedules,
⚠️ Implementation and adaptation costs,
⚠️ Requirement to report quarterly and final data.
🛠️ What should an employer do?
Verify that it meets formal requirements.
Submit your project by September 15, 2025, via the Witkac.pl system.
Develop a shortened work-time model – e.g., a 4-day week or shorter days.
Ensure salary maintenance and transparent communication with the team.
Short-time work in Poland is both an opportunity to modernize the labor market and an organizational challenge. On the one hand, it gives employees more space for rest and personal life, but on the other, it requires employers to thoughtfully restructure their processes.
👉 For companies, participating in the pilot program is an opportunity to:
test new work models,
increase their attractiveness as an employer,
examine how reducing hours impacts efficiency and organizational culture.
