Poland expands work‑time and seniority rules, raising public‑sector costs

The European Court of Justice ruled that commuting time counts as working time when the travel is organised by the employer, a decision that applies to Poland and clarifies that employees are on the employer’s disposal during such journeys.

Poland’s labour code was amended in January 2026 for the public sector and in May 2026 for the private sector to broaden the periods counted toward seniority. The new definition now includes self‑employment, freelance contracts, agency work, foreign employment, military service and certain childcare-related gaps. The change has already led ministries to grant early jubilee awards and to face additional expenditure, with the Finance Ministry estimating over PLN 1.9 million in costs and total early-year spending across ministries exceeding several million zlotys.

Both measures aim to align workers’ rights with modern employment patterns but also increase financial obligations for public‑sector employers.