Poland updates labor laws and ZUS insurance regulations

Poland is implementing several changes to labor and social security regulations. Regarding health insurance, ZUS warns students who worked during the summer that their status as a family member under someone else's insurance does not automatically renew once their employment ends. Students must proactively re-register through a parent, spouse, or their university to avoid losing coverage.

New regulations for sick leave (L4) are also being introduced. Starting in 2027, doctors will be able to issue sick leave for only one specific type of insurance title. This allows individuals with multiple jobs to remain on leave for one position while continuing to work in another, provided their health allows it. Additionally, the definition of gainful activity has been clarified to ensure that minor actions, such as responding to an email, do not result in the loss of benefits.

Other employment updates include changes to seniority calculations. As of May 1, periods of working under mandate contracts or running a business will count toward seniority for vacation entitlements in the private sector. Finally, legal guidelines clarify that while sick leave protects employees from standard contract terminations, employers may still terminate contracts without notice in cases of long-term illness, depending on the employee's length of service.