Poland: Employment protections and limits for sick leave

Under the Polish Labor Code, employees on sick leave (L4) are entitled to certain protections against termination, but these protections are not indefinite. An employer may terminate an employment contract without notice if an employee's illness-related incapacity lasts longer than three months for those employed for less than six months. For employees with longer tenure, the standard limit for sick leave is 182 days, though this can be extended to 270 days for specific cases such as pregnancy or tuberculosis.

When calculating the duration of sick leave, weekends and holidays are included. Furthermore, the limits apply to cumulative absences; if multiple sick leaves occur with intervals of less than 60 days between them, they are counted toward the same limit.

Data from the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) shows a significant scale of absenteeism in Poland. In 2025, 27.5 million medical certificates were issued, totaling 290.5 million days of absence. The primary causes of incapacity include musculoskeletal disorders, mental health issues, and respiratory diseases.