How much vacation time do employees get in Poland?

If you're planning to work in Poland, one of the important aspects to understand is the amount of paid vacation time employees are legally entitled to. Polish labor law outlines specific guidelines regarding annual leave, and understanding these rules will help both employees and employers maintain compliance and enjoy a healthy work-life balance.

Legal Framework for Paid Leave in Poland

The amount of paid annual leave in Poland is regulated by the Polish Labor Code (Kodeks pracy). According to this law, all employees working under an employment contract (umowa o pracę) are entitled to paid annual leave, with the exact number of days depending on their work experience.

Standard Vacation Entitlements

The number of vacation days an employee receives annually depends on their total work seniority, not just the years spent with the current employer.

There are two main thresholds:

• 20 days per year – for employees with less than 10 years of total work experience.
• 26 days per year – for employees with 10 or more years of total work experience.

This entitlement is based on a five-day workweek. If an employee works fewer days per week, their vacation is calculated proportionally.

How Is Work Experience Calculated?

The total years of work experience may include:

• Time spent in previous jobs.
• Time spent in higher education (college or university).

Here’s how education affects vacation eligibility:

• Secondary education (e.g., high school diploma) adds 4 years.
• Bachelor’s degree adds 6 years.
• Master’s degree adds 8 years.

These periods are not cumulative. For example, if you hold a master’s degree, you receive 8 years of credit, not 4 (high school) + 8 (university).

Example:

A recent university graduate with no work history but a Master’s degree would be treated as having 8 years of experience. After working 2 more years, they’d reach 10 years and become entitled to 26 days of leave.

Accrual and Use of Vacation Days

• Vacation days accrue monthly during the first year of employment at a rate of 1/12 of the annual entitlement per month.
• After the first year, employees receive the full vacation entitlement at the beginning of each calendar year.
• Employees should use their vacation leave by the end of the calendar year. However, unused vacation can be carried over and used until September 30 of the following year.

Part-Time Employees

Part-time employees are also entitled to paid vacation leave, but it is calculated proportionally to their work schedule.

For example:

• A part-time employee working 3 days a week with 10+ years of experience would receive (3/5) × 26 = 15.6 days, usually rounded up to 16 days.

Additional Leave Entitlements

Apart from standard annual leave, Polish labor law provides for other types of leave, such as:

• Maternity and parental leave
• Sick leave
• Unpaid leave
• Special leave (e.g., for a wedding, funeral, or childbirth)

These are separate from the standard vacation entitlement and are granted under specific conditions.

Employer Policies and Extra Benefits

While the minimum legal vacation time is clearly defined, some employers offer additional vacation days as part of company benefits, especially in competitive sectors like IT, finance, or international companies. These extra days are sometimes referred to as "corporate leave" and are not mandated by law.

Final Thoughts

Poland offers a fairly generous vacation policy by international standards, especially once an employee has reached 10 years of seniority. This structure encourages long-term employment and supports a balanced lifestyle. Whether you're an employee planning your first job in Poland or an employer looking to understand your legal responsibilities, knowing the rules around vacation leave is essential for smooth HR operations and employee satisfaction.