Polish labor market trends show rising demand for flexible work and better boundaries

Recent reports highlight evolving trends in the Polish labor market, specifically regarding work-life balance and employee expectations. According to the Top Employers Institute, Polish organizations are increasingly prioritizing boundaries between professional and private life. Approximately 82% of surveyed top employers in Poland discourage checking work emails outside of business hours, which is 22 percentage points higher than the global average. Additionally, 66% of these employers allow staff to decide their own work hours and locations.

However, a significant gap remains in the implementation of a “vacation embargo”—the practice of not contacting employees during their time off. Only 45% of Polish companies currently enforce this policy, a figure consistent with global and European averages. Experts note that even when policies exist, the behavior of leaders often undermines them if managers continue to send messages during employee leave.

Shifting priorities are also evident in candidate expectations. Data from Personnel Service indicates that flexible working hours have become more desirable than remote work, with 39% of Polish workers prioritizing the ability to decide their own schedule, compared to 28% who prioritize remote work options.