Electronic sick leave notes new law soon coming into force in Poland

Who is entitled to sickness benefits?

All individuals, including foreign citizens, employed in Poland under a contract of employment or a contract of mandate are registered with the Polish National Health Fund (NFZ) and entitled to healthcare benefits. Contributions to NFZ are deducted every month from the employee’s income.

Statutory sick pay

Sick pay is covered by an employer for a period not exceeding 33 days in a calendar year, or 14 days in a calendar year for employees who are over 50 years old.

It is financed in the amount of:

• 80 percent of the employee’s salary,
• 100 percent of the salary if the absence results from:

a) an accident on the way to/ or from work

b) an illness during pregnancy or an examination

c) operation related to being an organ, cell or tissue donor

How an employee should notify the employer of an illness?

From 2018, all sick leave notes are issued digitally by doctors and uploaded to the Electronic Services Platform (PUE ZUS), which will allow for easy access to the employee’s data as well as prevent possible fraud.

Sickness allowance

If the period of illness extends beyond the above-mentioned limits, the employee is entitled to receive a sickness allowance (zasiłek chorobowy) financed by the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS). The sickness allowance can be paid for a period of up to 182 days or 270 days, provided the incapacity to work is caused by tuberculosis or occurs during pregnancy.

The amount of sickness allowance usually equals the amount of sick pay. Additionally, hospitalized employees are entitled to an allowance in the amount of 80 percent of their salary.

All employees acquire the right to sick pay and sickness allowance 30 days after being registered in the insurance scheme.