Employers from all sectors of the economy were eligible to apply to participate in the voluntary pilot programme for reduced working hours with full pay. They had the time to prepare and complete their applications from 14 August 2025 to 15 September 2025.  

Applications were submitted by 1,994 enterprises and institutions, which testifies to the innovativeness of Polish companies and the maturity of our economy and labour market.  

These applications came from a wide variety of institutions and companies, smaller firms, large organisations, public institutions and, of course, private institutions. This diversity will allow us to test reduced working hours with no loss of pay in different contexts, under different conditions and in different work organisation models

– said the Minister Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk. 

Many models for reducing working hours 

The experiences of other countries show that reduced working hours with no loss of pay are beneficial for both employees and employers. However, there is no single correct model to implement this. 

Reducing working hours must be done in a manner tailored to the specific nature of the industry and company in question. That is why the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy is implementing the first pilot programme in this part of Europe to reduce working hours while maintaining remuneration. 

We want to see which solutions make sense and how they work in practice. We have opened the pilot programme for employers of all sizes from the private and public sectors and all industries. Participation is voluntary, which is why we are particularly pleased with the large number of applications. 

A four-day working week is not only one of the ways to reduce working hours. As part of the pilot programme, employers can also test a smaller number of working hours each day, grant additional leave or implement their own model of reduced working hours with full pay. 

We are starting the next stage of the pilot programme 

To evaluate the submitted applications, a special commission has been appointed at the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy. The list of projects recommended for implementation will be announced by 15 October 2025.  

The selected companies and institutions will have time until the end of the year to prepare for the reduction in working hours. The main stage of this programme will start on 1 January 2026. Employers have one year to test how their chosen models for reducing working hours while maintaining remuneration will work in practice.  

The Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy will collect data from employees and employers throughout the pilot programme and after its completion. We will then prepare a report summarising the tested solutions and analyse the possibility of implementing them on a larger scale. 

Conditions for participation in the pilot programme 

Employers who implement the pilot programme to reduce working hours while maintaining remuneration can count on support of up to PLN 1 million and no more than PLN 20,000 per employee. 

Applications could be submitted by companies and institutions that have been operating for at least one year and employ at least 75% of their staff under an employment contract, appointment, election or nomination. 

Each pilot project will cover at least 50% of employees from different positions. From January to June 2026, employers will reduce working hours by 10%, and in the second half of the year by 20%.  

The terms of employment and remuneration of employees will not be allowed to deteriorate. The employer will be also required to maintain employment at a level not lower than 90% of the initial state. 

Companies and institutions will submit regular questionnaires on the reduction of working hours to the Ministry Family, Labour and Social Policy, completed by employees and employers. They will also be required to report on the implementation of projects and the use of funds. The Ministry will supervise the proper implementation of the pilot programme with the possibility of conducting inspections. 

Why do we need the shorter time working schemes? 

The eight-hour working day was introduced in Poland 107 years ago, and free Saturdays over 50 years ago. Much has changed since then. New technologies have significantly increased work efficiency, and many countries, companies and institutions are already reducing working hours. 

There are many benefits. Employees can enjoy a better work-life balance, greater opportunities for self-development, longer professional activity, and a lower risk of burnout. Employers, in turn, can observe an increase in employee efficiency and creativity, a decrease in the number of errors and accidents, as well as greater competitiveness on the labour market.