Sick pay in Poland (2026)

Last reviewed: 7 November 2026

In short: The employer pays sick wages for up to 33 days a year (14 for employees aged 50 or over), then ZUS pays sickness benefit. The ZUS benefit is 80% of the assessment base, or 100% in some cases, for up to 182 days (270 for tuberculosis or incapacity during pregnancy). It requires 30 days of insurance, and it is paid on the basis of a medical certificate (e-ZLA).

RuleWhat applies
Who pays sick payBeing ill and unable to workThe employer pays sick wages (wynagrodzenie chorobowe, art. 92 Labour Code) for up to 33 days of incapacity in a calendar year, or 14 days for employees aged 50 or over. After that, ZUS pays sickness benefit (zasiłek chorobowy) from its Social Insurance Fund, from the 34th day (or the 15th day for those aged 50 or over). [1]
Sick pay rateBeing ill and unable to workZUS sickness benefit is 80% of the assessment base, or 100% if the incapacity results from an accident on the way to or from work, occurs during pregnancy, or results from certain medical examinations or procedures for organ, cell and tissue donors. [2]
Maximum durationBeing ill and unable to workZUS sickness benefit is paid for the duration of the incapacity, for up to 182 days, or up to 270 days if the incapacity is caused by tuberculosis or occurs during pregnancy. The employer’s sick wages cover the first 33 days (14 days for those aged 50 or over) in a calendar year. [1]
Waiting daysBeing ill and unable to workThe right to ZUS sickness benefit arises after 30 days of uninterrupted compulsory sickness insurance, or after 90 days for voluntary sickness insurance. [1]
Medical certificateBeing ill and unable to workThe document on which sickness benefit is paid is the medical certificate (zwolnienie lekarskie): an electronic certificate (e-ZLA), a printout of an electronically issued certificate, or a printed form when e-ZLA cannot be issued. The page names no minimum number of days. [3]

Notes

  • For employees aged 50 or over, the 14-day period applies from the calendar year after the year in which they turn 50.
  • The percentage for the employer’s sick wages under art. 92 of the Labour Code is not stated on the ZUS pages read; the rate shown is the ZUS benefit.

Sources

  1. Zakład Ubezpieczeń Społecznych (ZUS): Prawo do zasiłku chorobowego i okres przysługiwania - z ubezpieczenia chorobowego - ZUS (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
  2. Zakład Ubezpieczeń Społecznych (ZUS): Wysokość - ZUS (zasiłek chorobowy z ubezpieczenia chorobowego) (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
  3. Zakład Ubezpieczeń Społecznych (ZUS): Niezbędne dokumenty - zasiłek chorobowy z ubezpieczenia chorobowego - ZUS (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources

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General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.