Leaving a job in Poland: notice periods, documents and what you must be paid

Some believe you can leave a Polish job "any time, with two weeks' notice". That's not so. Two weeks applies only to those who have worked for the employer less than six months. After three years with the company, you'll have to work a full three months unless you agree otherwise.

Three ways to end an employment contract

• By mutual agreement (porozumienie stron). You and the employer pick the date — even the next day. The fastest and calmest option.
• With notice (wypowiedzenie). One side notifies the other in writing, and the contract runs for a set period.
• Without notice. Only for serious breaches: on the employee's side, for example, coming to work drunk; on the employer's side, systematically not paying wages.

Notice periods

The period depends on your time with this particular employer:

• up to 6 months — 2 weeks;
• 6 months to 3 years — 1 month;
• 3 years or more — 3 months.

A two-week notice ends on a Saturday; one- and three-month notices end on the last day of a month. So a notice handed over on 10 March with a one-month period releases you only on 30 April.

If the employer dismisses you

• Days off to look for work. During the notice period you are entitled to paid days off: 2 days with a two-week or one-month notice, 3 days with a three-month notice.
• Severance pay (odprawa). If the company has at least 20 employees and the dismissal is not your fault: one month's pay for under 2 years of service, two for 2 to 8 years, three for over 8 years.
• Release from work. The employer may release you from working during the notice period while keeping your pay.

What you must receive

• Świadectwo pracy — on your last day or within 7 days. Without it, finding the next job and claiming unemployment benefit is harder.
• Pay for the time worked.
• Compensation for unused holiday (ekwiwalent za urlop) — if you didn't manage to take it.

Umowa zlecenie — different rules

The Labour Code doesn't apply here. Termination terms are set by the contract itself: look for the clause on wypowiedzenie and penalties. If there is none, a mandate contract can in principle be ended at any time, but you may be asked to compensate losses caused by leaving at a bad moment.

Leaving and your residence card

If your residence permit was issued for work with a specific employer, losing that job means notifying the voivode within the legal deadline. The permit doesn't vanish the same day, but time to find a new basis is limited. Before signing a mutual agreement, find out how it affects your document.

Checklist before leaving

• Contract type. Umowa o pracę or zlecenie — all deadlines depend on it.
• Length of service. Count how long you've worked for this company.
• Written form. Every notice or agreement — on paper, signed.
• Holiday. How many days are left and whether you can use them.
• Documents. Świadectwo pracy, PIT-11 next year, final settlement.
• Legal stay. How leaving affects your residence card or visa.