Sick leave from 2027: sick in one job, fit for another?

November 6, 2026

From 1 January 2027, new sick leave regulations will come into force in Poland, bringing significant changes for individuals working for more than one employer. Under the new rules, employees will be able to take sick leave from one job while continuing to work in another, provided their health condition and the nature of their duties allow it. This represents a major departure from the current system, where incapacity for work generally applies to all employment relationships covered by sickness insurance.

When will working during sick leave be possible?

The new regulations do not mean that employees will decide on their own which job they are unable to perform. The decision will remain with the attending physician, who will assess both the employee’s health condition and the specific duties performed in each role. If a medical condition prevents a person from performing one type of work but does not affect another, the physician may, at the employee’s request, refrain from issuing sick leave for a selected insurance title.

For example, a person combining physically demanding warehouse work with a remote office position may be unable to perform warehouse duties due to a broken leg while still being capable of working at a computer. In such cases, the employee may receive sickness benefits from one employer while continuing to earn a regular salary from another.

One benefit period for all employments

Another significant change is the introduction of a single benefit period covering all sickness insurance titles. This means that entitlement periods will be calculated collectively, regardless of the number of jobs held.

The existing limits will remain unchanged:

• 182 days in standard cases,
• 270 days in cases related to pregnancy or tuberculosis.

The aim of the new solution is to simplify the system and ensure consistent calculation of sickness benefits.

Additional responsibilities for employees

Employees using the new arrangements will be subject to additional reporting obligations. Anyone receiving sick leave under one insurance title while continuing to work under another will be required to inform the relevant contribution payer. This requirement is intended to ensure the correct calculation of the unified benefit period and prevent errors in the payment of sickness benefits.

What do the changes mean for employers?

The new regulations will require HR and payroll departments to pay increased attention to employees’ sick leave records across multiple insurance titles. Employers will need to consider information relating to sick leave taken elsewhere when verifying eligibility and benefit periods. Importantly, information that an employee is on sick leave in another workplace will not automatically mean that the employee is unable to perform duties within their own organization.

Tags Labour Law, prawo pracy, sick leave, sick leave working abroad Poland, ZUS