Employment management: Handling absences and offboarding in Poland

In Poland, the legal process for handling employees who stop showing up for work requires specific documentation. While the term ‘job abandonment’ has not formally existed in Polish labor law since 1996, an employee's sudden absence does not automatically terminate an employment contract. Employers are advised to attempt contact via phone, SMS, or email to document their efforts and rule out emergencies like hospitalization. Until the situation is clarified, the absence is recorded as unjustified, and the employee is not entitled to wages for that period.

Beyond legal requirements, the process of offboarding—the formal end of a professional relationship—is increasingly recognized as a critical component of organizational culture. Research indicates that over 70% of candidates judge an organization by how it treats departing employees. A well-planned offboarding process can mitigate the high stress associated with termination and protect a company's reputation, turning former employees into brand ambassadors rather than critics.