What holidays are observed by companies in Poland?

Poland observes a range of national public holidays that are legally recognized and widely respected by both public institutions and private companies. These holidays are an important part of Polish culture and often involve religious, historical, or national celebrations.

Understanding the holiday calendar is essential for employers, employees, foreign businesses operating in Poland, and individuals planning to work, travel, or do business in the country.

 

Overview of Public Holidays in Poland

Polish labor law mandates that employees are entitled to paid time off on all official public holidays. There are 13 non-working days recognized by law, in addition to Sundays. If a public holiday falls on a Sunday, it is not compensated unless the employee is scheduled to work on Sundays.

Legally Recognized Public Holidays in Poland

Date	Holiday	Polish Name	Notes
January 1	New Year’s Day	Nowy Rok	Start of the calendar year
January 6	Epiphany	Święto Trzech Króli	Religious holiday; restored in 2011 as a public holiday
Easter Sunday	Wielkanoc	Wielkanoc	Date varies (March/April)
Easter Monday	Easter Monday	Poniedziałek Wielkanocny	Always a non-working day
May 1	Labour Day	Święto Pracy	International Workers' Day
May 3	Constitution Day	Święto Konstytucji 3 Maja	Celebrates 1791 Constitution
Pentecost Sunday	Pentecost	Zesłanie Ducha Świętego	7th Sunday after Easter
Corpus Christi	Corpus Christi	Boże Ciało	Always on Thursday, 60 days after Easter
August 15	Assumption Day	Wniebowzięcie Najświętszej Maryi Panny	Also Armed Forces Day
November 1	All Saints’ Day	Wszystkich Świętych	Commemoration of deceased
November 11	Independence Day	Narodowe Święto Niepodległości	Marks independence in 1918
December 25	Christmas Day	Boże Narodzenie	Religious and family holiday
December 26	Second Day of Christmas	Drugi Dzień Świąt	Also a statutory holiday

 

Religious Holidays and Observance

Poland is predominantly Roman Catholic, and many public holidays reflect this. While Easter, Christmas, and Corpus Christi are religious in nature, they are observed nationwide regardless of individual religious affiliation.

Other Religious Observances

There are other religious or cultural days that are not public holidays but may be observed by some businesses or individuals:

• Ash Wednesday (Środa Popielcowa)
• All Souls’ Day (Zaduszki) – November 2
• Christmas Eve (Wigilia) – December 24 (not a public holiday, but many companies close early)
• Holy Saturday – The day before Easter (business hours are often reduced)

Companies may allow flexible hours or time off on these days, especially if they have a religious or family-oriented workplace culture.

 

Optional and Commonly Observed Non-Legal Holidays

While not official public holidays, the following days often affect business operations:

Christmas Eve – December 24

• Not a public holiday, but often treated as such.
• Many companies give a half-day or full day off.
• Retail stores typically close early.

New Year’s Eve – December 31

• Also not a public holiday.
• Common for offices to close early or grant paid leave.

Bridge Days (Dni Wolne po Świętach)

When a holiday falls on a Tuesday or Thursday, many companies give employees a “bridge day” (usually Monday or Friday) to create a long weekend. Employees may use annual leave or be granted additional time off by the employer.

Example:

• If May 3rd (Constitution Day) falls on a Thursday, May 4th (Friday) might be treated as a non-working day.

 

Impact on Business Operations

1. Workplace Closure

• On public holidays, most government offices, banks, schools, and businesses are closed.
• Shops and supermarkets are also closed by law on most public holidays.

2. Retail Exceptions

• Small family-owned shops may remain open if operated by the owner.
• Gas stations and pharmacies typically remain open.

3. Holiday Pay

• Employees are entitled to a day off with pay on public holidays.
• If an employee must work on a public holiday, they are entitled to double pay or a substitute day off, in accordance with the Polish Labour Code.

4. Annual Leave Planning

• Polish employees are entitled to 20 or 26 days of paid vacation per year, depending on their employment history.
• Many workers plan vacations around public holidays to maximize time off (using bridge days).

 

Employer Obligations

Employers in Poland must:

• Observe the 13 national public holidays as non-working days.
• Ensure that work on holidays follows strict labor code regulations.
• Keep accurate records of work schedules and holiday compensation.
• Notify employees in advance about any company closures or bridge day policies.

Failure to comply with holiday pay rules or unlawful scheduling on public holidays can lead to legal penalties and employee grievances.

 

Conclusion

Public holidays in Poland are an important part of the country's legal and cultural landscape. With 13 legally mandated non-working days, Polish employees enjoy generous holiday protections compared to many other countries. For businesses, proper planning around these holidays is essential to maintain compliance and workforce satisfaction.

Whether you're managing a team in Poland, relocating for work, or doing business with Polish partners, understanding the local holiday schedule will help you align your operations and expectations.