Poland to test a shorter working week

Portugal, Germany and the UK are just some of the countries that have run reduced working week trials. The outcome? Most companies that took part in the programmes reported positive results, including improved work-life balance and mental health as well as increased work quality and productivity¹. Similar findings emerged from the Icelandic trials, which took place between 2015-2019, and led to the majority of the working population switching to shorter hours for good². Now it is Poland’s turn to give a shorter working week a go.

Poles want more flexibility

Considering that Poland has one of the longest working weeks in the European Union (according to the latest Eurostat report, almost three hours longer than the EU average³), it is no wonder that the upcoming pilot project attracts a lot of media attention. As recently reported by SWPS University⁴, 65 per cent of women and 63 per cent of men in Poland would like to benefit from more flexible working options. When asked how they would prefer to change their work hours, most respondents opted for a four-day working week (36 per cent of women and 37 per cent of men). Almost three quarters of those surveyed said they believe that moving to a four-day working week could lead to a better quality of life. Now some businesses in Poland are about to put this theory to the test.

As expressed by Poland’s Labour Minister, Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk, the government aims to explore different approaches to reducing working time across a range of organisations:

This will be the first trial of a shorter working week in this part of Europe, the first in our region, and the largest pilot project in Poland. We want to promote shorter working hours and encourage various types of organisations to test different solutions. Entrepreneurs, local authorities, foundations, associations and trade unions can all join the pilot project to discover what works best for them.

Who can take part?

Applications can be submitted by employers, including both private and public entities, that meet the following criteria:

• They have been operating for at least 12 months before applying.  

• At least 75 per cent of their employees work under a contract of employment, appointment, election, nomination or a cooperative employment contract.  

• They include a minimum of 50 per cent of their employees in the project.  

• They need to keep employment levels at a minimum of 90 per cent of the original number stated in the application.

• Salaries of those involved in the trial will not drop below the initial amount throughout the project.

• Employees participating in the project will not experience any decline in their pay or working conditions.
  

How much funding can employers receive? 

Each project can get up to PLN 1 million in funding. Note that the cost per employee cannot exceed PLN 20,000.

Key dates

Online applications for the programme will be accepted from 14 August to 15 September 2025.  

The selected projects will be announced by 15 October 2025. 

The trial will begin on 1 January 2026 and continue until 31 December 2026.

How to apply

Applications can only be submitted online via an online form provided by the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy.

For more details, visit the website of Poland’s Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy.

¹ https://www.portugal.gov.pt/en/gc23/communication/news-item?i=95-of-companies-assess-positively-the-four-day-week-experiment;

https://www.ukri.org/who-we-are/how-we-are-doing/research-outcomes-and-impact/esrc/making-the-case-for-a-four-day-working-week/;

https://www.dw.com/en/german-firms-tested-4-day-workweek-heres-the-outcome/a-70685885

² https://www.bbc.com/news/business-57724779

³ https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/w/ddn-20250514-1

⁴ https://swps.pl/centrum-prasowe/informacje-prasowe/37395-praca-w-rytmie-4-7-czy-jestesmy-gotowi-pracowac-inaczej