Overtime Pay Rules in Poland

Poland has well-defined labor laws that regulate overtime work, ensuring that employees are fairly compensated for extra hours beyond their standard working time. Understanding these rules is crucial for both employees and employers to maintain compliance and ensure fair pay.

Standard Working Hours in Poland

Under Polish labor law, a standard workweek consists of 40 hours spread over five days, meaning employees typically work 8 hours per day. Any hours worked beyond this limit are considered overtime and are subject to additional compensation.

Overtime Compensation Rates

Employees in Poland are entitled to extra pay for overtime work, which varies depending on when the extra hours are worked:

• 150% of the regular hourly rate (a 50% bonus) for overtime on regular workdays.
• 200% of the regular hourly rate (a 100% bonus) for overtime work:
  • On Sundays and public holidays (unless the employee was scheduled to work on these days per their contract).
  • At night (from 9 PM to 7 AM).

Alternatively, instead of monetary compensation, an employer may offer additional time off in lieu of overtime pay.

Limits on Overtime Work

To protect workers from excessive working hours, Polish labor law imposes the following restrictions:

• The total overtime hours cannot exceed 150 hours per year, unless otherwise agreed in a collective labor agreement.
• The combined total of regular and overtime work must not exceed 48 hours per week on average over a settlement period (typically 4 months).
• Employees must have at least 11 hours of uninterrupted rest per day and 35 hours of uninterrupted rest per week.

Overtime for Different Types of Employees

• Part-time Employees: They must explicitly agree in their contract to work overtime, and employers must pay the same extra rate for additional hours exceeding their agreed working time.
• Managerial Staff: Senior managers and executives may not always qualify for overtime pay if their position requires them to manage their own working hours.
• Special Cases: Certain professions, such as healthcare workers, firefighters, and emergency responders, may have different overtime rules due to the nature of their work.

Employer Obligations

Employers in Poland must properly record all overtime hours and compensate employees according to the legal requirements. Failing to do so can result in fines or legal actions.

Conclusion

Overtime work in Poland is strictly regulated to ensure employees receive fair compensation for extra hours worked. Whether you are an employee seeking fair wages or an employer ensuring compliance with Polish labor laws, understanding these overtime pay rules is essential.

If you are working in Poland and believe your employer is not paying overtime correctly, you can seek assistance from the State Labour Inspectorate (Państwowa Inspekcja Pracy - PIP) or consult a labor law specialist for guidance.