Time off on umowa zlecenie: is there holiday and what can you ask for

— I'd like a week off to go home for my sister's wedding.

— You're on zlecenie, there's no holiday. If you don't show up, we'll find someone else.

Warehouses hear this conversation every summer. The supervisor's answer is blunt, but legally there's some truth in it: umowa zlecenie is a civil-law contract, and the Labour Code with its 20 or 26 days of paid holiday doesn't apply. But the conclusion "so I have no right to rest" is wrong. Time off on zlecenie isn't guaranteed by law, but it can be agreed and written down.

What the law gives you and what it doesn't

• Paid holiday — not due unless it's in the contract.
• Payment for unused holiday — no: no holiday, no payment.
• 15-minute break in a shift of 6 hours or more — that's a Labour Code rule and doesn't apply to zlecenie automatically. In practice most companies give everyone the same breaks, but you can only demand one if it's written in.
• Health and safety (BHP) — does apply. The employer must ensure safe working conditions for people on zlecenie too.

How to agree on time off

Zlecenie is a contract where the parties have a lot of freedom. So anything about rest can be written in:

• Unpaid breaks. For example: "zleceniobiorca ma prawo do przerwy w wykonywaniu zlecenia do 14 dni w roku, po uprzednim zgłoszeniu". You're not paid for those days, but your contract isn't at risk.
• Paid days. Some companies pay "holiday" on zlecenie as a perk to keep people. It's rare, but worth asking about.
• Notice period. Agree how many days in advance you must announce a break. Then there's no ground for a penalty or ending the contract.
• Substitute. The law lets you hand the work to someone else only if the contract allows it. If it does, a friend can cover for you while you're away.

The best moment for this conversation is before signing, not the day before you leave.

How to ask for a break if the contract says nothing

Even without a rest clause you can come to an agreement. Write a short request: travel dates, a reason (no need for detail) and a request to approve the break. Ideally two or three weeks ahead, while the supervisor can still rearrange the schedule. Ask for the answer in writing or at least by message.

If the company refuses and you go anyway, the risk is termination of the contract and possibly a penalty, if one is provided for. So reread the kary umowne section before the trip. Often it turns out there's no penalty, and the worst case is looking for a new job when you're back.

What changed in 2026: work history

From 1 January 2026, periods on umowa zlecenie and self-employment count towards your work history (staż pracy). That doesn't give you holiday on zlecenie itself, but it matters when you later move to an employment contract. For example, whether you get 20 or 26 days of holiday, and your notice period, depend on staż.

For a period to count, it has to be proven — usually with a ZUS certificate of contributions paid. So keep your contracts and invoices: they're your future work history. Check the details with your new employer's HR, as the way the new rule is applied is still being clarified in practice.

When "zlecenie" is really a job

If you have a fixed schedule, a manager tells you what to do every day, you work only in person and a full month — these are signs of an employment relationship. In that case you can go to court to have the employment relationship established (ustalenie istnienia stosunku pracy) or contact the labour inspectorate. If the court recognises the contract as employment, you're entitled to all employee rights, including holiday.

It's not a quick route, but worth knowing about — especially if you've been on the same "zlecenie" for several years.

Checklist: time off on zlecenie

• Contract. Check whether there's a clause on breaks or rest.
• Agreement. Ask for unpaid rest days to be added before signing.
• Notice. Announce trips in writing and in advance.
• Substitute. Find out whether you can pass a shift to someone else.
• Work history. Keep contracts and ZUS certificates — from 2026 they count towards staż pracy.
• Employment. If you work like staff, consider demanding an employment contract.