Sick leave during pregnancy in Poland: 100% pay and protection from dismissal

Maryna found out she was pregnant four months into her factory job. The first thing she did was tell nobody. She was afraid the agency wouldn't renew her contract, which ended in two months. So for several more weeks she worked night shifts on the line, although she was entitled to very different conditions.

The idea that "a pregnant worker should keep quiet as long as possible" often does more harm than good in Poland. Most protections — against dismissal, against night shifts, extension of the contract — kick in once the employer officially knows about the pregnancy. And sick leave during that time is paid in full.

How much is paid: 100%, not 80%

Ordinary sick leave in Poland pays 80% of the base. During pregnancy it's 100%. This applies to any L4 during pregnancy, even if the reason is a cold rather than a complication. What matters is that the doctor marks the pregnancy on the e-ZLA (code "B").

The base is your average pay over the last 12 months minus ZUS contributions. If you've worked less, it's calculated from the full months you have. The employer pays the first 33 days in a year, then ZUS. You'll barely notice: the money comes with your salary.

How long you can be on L4

The usual sick leave limit is 182 days. For pregnant women it's 270 days. That's enough to be on sick leave, if needed, from the first trimester until birth. After the baby is born, L4 ends and zasiłek macierzyński — maternity benefit — begins.

Sick leave isn't granted "automatically because of pregnancy". A doctor issues it if your health or working conditions require it. In practice, with physical work in a warehouse or factory doctors issue L4 often, but it's the doctor's decision, not an entitlement.

If you work through a temporary work agency, the pregnancy certificate goes to the agency: it is your employer, not the company where you work on the line. You can check which sick notes have arrived and which days have been paid in your PUE/eZUS online account.

Protection from dismissal on umowa o pracę

• No dismissal. During pregnancy the employer can't terminate the employment contract — with or without notice. The exceptions are narrow: disciplinary dismissal for a serious breach (with trade union consent, if there is one) and liquidation or bankruptcy of the company.
• Contract extension. A fixed-term contract (czas określony) or a trial contract longer than one month that would end after the third month of pregnancy is extended until the day of birth.
• Protection on L4 too. These rules apply while you're on sick leave as well.

For the protection to work, the employer has to know about the pregnancy. The safest way is to hand HR a doctor's certificate (zaświadczenie lekarskie o ciąży) and ask for confirmation of receipt.

What else changes at work

• No nights or overtime. A pregnant worker can't be assigned night work or overtime.
• No heavy work. There's a list of jobs forbidden for pregnant women — including lifting heavy loads. The employer must move you to another post without a pay cut or release you from work with pay.
• Check-ups during working hours. For medical check-ups that can't be done outside work, you must be released with pay.

What if you're on umowa zlecenie

The picture is different here. There's no protection against termination, the contract isn't extended until birth, and the Labour Code's limits on night shifts don't apply. L4 is paid at 100% only if you voluntarily pay the chorobowe contribution and 90 days of continuous insurance have passed. Without it, sick leave only excuses your absence.

If you're planning a pregnancy and working on zlecenie, take care of the chorobowe contribution in advance or try to switch to an employment contract.

Checklist for a pregnant employee

• Certificate. Get a zaświadczenie o ciąży from your doctor and hand it to your employer against signature.
• Contract. Check its end date and whether it will be extended until birth.
• Schedule. Ask to be taken off night shifts and overtime.
• Working conditions. If the work is heavy, ask in writing for a transfer.
• L4. Check the e-ZLA has the pregnancy mark — the 100% depends on it.
• Zlecenie. Confirm whether you pay chorobowe and how many days of insurance you have.