Poland is trialing shorter workweek hours

Poland has announced the first pilot program in Europe for shorter workweek hours, as reported by EuroWeekly on April 29, 2025.

Under the new pilot plan, businesses, local governments, NGOs, and unions can voluntarily test different models of reduced working time. Options include a shorter workday, a four-day workweek, or additional annual leave days. Crucially, participants must maintain current salaries and workforce levels.

The Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy (MFLSP) aims to cut total working hours by 20% without reducing pay or productivity. The program will be supported by a government fund of 10 million zloty (approximately $2.7 million USD) in its first year.

The move signals a shift toward improving work-life balance for Polish employees, who currently work some of the longest hours in the European Union (EU). Poland works on average 39.3 hours per week, which is 3.2 more than the EU average. Greece and Romania are the only EU countries with longer average workweeks.

What this Means for Employers and Workers

If widely adopted, the trial could reshape labor expectations across Poland.

“It’s time for Poles to start working less,” said Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk, Minister for Family, Labour and Social Policy. “More than a century after the introduction of the eight-hour working day, Poles are working more efficiently, better, and smarter.”

Proponents argue that reduced working hours will lead to improved mental health, lower burnout risk, and longer professional careers. Employers could see benefits like fewer mistakes, higher efficiency, and reduced absenteeism.

How Will the Pilot Be Implemented?

The pilot draws inspiration from previous Polish case studies. In Włocławek, the town hall first adopted shorter hours and expanded the policy across other municipal offices. Meanwhile, Herbapol Poznań, a natural remedies company, shifted to a four-day workweek in 2023.

“The principle we followed was: the employee can only gain from this change, and the company cannot lose”, said the president of Herbapol’s management board, Tomasz Kaczmarek. Despite some internal resistance, the firm saw reduced turnover, fewer absences, and its best financial performance in years.

Critics, however, have voiced concern over the country’s readiness. “At the moment, the Polish economy certainly cannot afford it. We are in a phase where labor resources are shrinking very rapidly due to the demographic crisis”, said Rafał Dutkiewicz, head of Employers Poland, pointing to demographic decline and shrinking labor supply.

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