Poland grants extra compensatory day off for workers in August 2026

The Polish government has designated an additional day off for employees in August 2026 because the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary falls on Saturday, 14 August. Under Article 130 § 2 of the Labour Code and a 2012 Constitutional Tribunal ruling, a public holiday that coincides with a regular non‑working day must be compensated with another day off, and employers cannot require employees to work it. The decree, signed by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, specifies that the compensatory day will be 21 August in Warsaw, ensuring workers receive the full eight‑hour reduction in working time without loss of pay. A similar situation will recur in December when the second day of Christmas also falls on a Saturday, prompting further compensatory scheduling.

The measure aims to standardise holiday scheduling across the country and avoid confusion caused by differing local calendars, reinforcing the principle of equal treatment for all employees.