Warsaw Road Authority Dismisses Whistleblower Amid Legal Dispute

On Friday, two Law and Justice (PiS) councilors, Damian Kowalczyk and Christian Młynarek, entered the headquarters of Warsaw’s Zarząd Dróg Miejskich (ZDM) to inspect the office and question its director about alleged breaches of the whistleblower protection law after an employee with declared whistleblower status was terminated. The former employee had reported what he described as wasteful spending on insurance for seized municipal vehicles and said he faced retaliation, including a reduced motivation bonus, limited access to work tools and worsening employment conditions. The city mayor recognized his whistleblower status in November 2025, but the employee received a notice of dismissal in January 2026.

ZDM issued a statement saying it had no knowledge of the employee’s whistleblower designation at the time of the termination and that the dismissal was based on documented performance deficiencies, not the report. The authority added that it never received official documentation confirming the protected status and that the employee was informed of his right to appeal. ZDM also defended its handling of vehicle insurance as a cost‑saving measure that protected the city’s finances.