Four-day work week – application deadline 15 september

The deadline for applications by employers interested in participating in the pilot program of reduced working time organised by the Polish Ministry of Labour (the “Pilot Program”) is 15 September 2025.

Pilot program assumptions and objectives

The Pilot Program will test alternative work organisation models (while maintaining employees' current remuneration), including:

• a 4-day working week,
• reduced daily working hours
• additional days off.

The objective of the Pilot Program is to provide subsidies to employers whose projects are selected for inclusion. Participation is voluntary and flexible; employers can propose work organisation options tailored to the specific nature of their business and employees' needs. All submissions will be evaluated, and submission does not guarantee that a project will qualify for the Pilot Program.

Conditions of participation for employers

The Pilot Program is open to employers (from both the private and public sectors) that:

• have been doing business for at least 12 months
• employ at least 75% of their employees on the basis of an employment contract
• include at least 50% of their employees in various positions in the Pilot Program
• maintain employment at a level of at least 90% of the initial level specified in the application
• guarantee that working and pay conditions do not deteriorate during the Pilot Program.

Scope of financial support

Employers may receive funding in the amount of:

• up to PLN 1 million per Pilot Program,
• up to PLN 20,000 per employee covered by the Pilot Program.

The funds may be used for:

• substantive costs, including research, expert opinions, training, process optimisation and wage subsidies
• service costs, including information activities, promotion, recruitment, monitoring and project settlement (up to 10% of the project value).

How to apply and deadlines

Applications must be submitted by 15 September 2025, solely in electronic form.

A list of employers that qualify for the Pilot Program will be published by 15 October 2025.

The Pilot Program will be implemented in three stages:

1. Preparatory stage (until the end of 2025) – signing agreements with employers
2. Test stage (2026) – implementation of reduced working hours in the workplace
3. Summary stage (until 15 May 2027) – submission of final reports and questionnaires by employers and employees.

Our Employment law team remains at your disposal. We can analyse whether participation in the Pilot Program is possible and advise on implementing changes in the organisation of working time.