Notice period for an employment contract: how long

The notice period for an employment contract depends mainly on tenure with this employer and is 2 weeks, a month, or 3 months. Temporary work contracts follow separate, shorter rules, described below. Under a mandate contract (umowa zlecenie), common in temporary work, the notice rules and periods follow from the contract and the Civil Code.

How long is the notice period for an employment contract

For fixed-term and indefinite-term contracts, three tenure thresholds with a given employer set the notice length (Article 36 §1 of the Labour Code):

Total tenure with the same employer counts, including any breaks in employment. Which contract fields determine the terms of employment is shown in the text on reading an employment contract.

What happens when tenure crosses a threshold during notice

The notice period itself counts toward tenure with the employer. If during it an employee reaches the threshold for a longer period, for example, six months of employment passes during a two-week notice, the notice period may extend to the length matching the new threshold, so confirm this with the coordinator or the HR department (dział kadr).

Notice during the probationary period

For a probationary contract, the notice period is shorter and depends on the length of the probation itself, not on overall tenure.

Notice period for temporary work

For a fixed-term contract with a temporary worker, notice is shorter: 3 days if the contract was concluded for a period not longer than 2 weeks, and 1 week if concluded for longer (Article 13 of the Act on the employment of temporary workers (ustawa o zatrudnianiu pracowników tymczasowych)). What counts is the period for which the contract with the agency was concluded. The full scope of rights under this employment model is described in the text on rights of a temporary worker.

Mandate contract (umowa zlecenie): different rules

For a mandate contract (umowa zlecenie), its content decides. If it provides for a notice term, that clause applies. If the contract is silent, a mandate can generally be terminated at any time. It is worth checking this point before signing.

Termination by mutual agreement

The parties may set any end date for the contract by mutual consent, regardless of the statutory notice periods. An agreement requires the consent of both parties and a date set in writing; without the employer's consent, statutory-term notice remains in force.

File your notice in writing. It is best to settle the submission date and the end of the notice period right away with the coordinator or the HR department.

Foreign nationals: additional duties on leaving

Losing a job while holding a single permit for residence and work (zezwolenie jednolite na pobyt i pracę) affects the validity of the permit; the scope of the notification duty is confirmed individually by the voivodeship office (urząd wojewódzki). A work permit generally applies to a specific entity, so before taking up new work it is worth checking with the voivodeship office whether a new document is needed.

What is due at the end of employment

At the end of an employment contract (umowa o pracę), the employee is entitled to pay for time worked, an equivalent for unused leave, and a certificate of employment (świadectwo pracy). Questions about the certificate are best directed to the coordinator. The certificate of employment is needed by the next employer to calculate tenure and leave entitlement; its content is covered in the text on the certificate of employment. Under a mandate contract (umowa zlecenie), only pay for the completed mandate is due, in line with the contract. No certificate of employment is issued under a mandate contract, but you can ask for a confirmation of cooperation.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the notice period for an indefinite-term contract?

It depends on tenure with this employer: 2 weeks for tenure below 6 months, a month for at least 6 months, 3 months for at least 3 years of employment.

Do breaks in employment with the same employer count toward tenure?

Yes, the total period of employment with a given employer counts, even when it was interrupted.

Is notice always shorter for temporary work?

For a fixed-term contract with the agency, yes: 3 days for a contract up to 2 weeks and a week for a longer one. What counts is the period for which the contract with the agency was concluded.

Can a mandate contract (umowa zlecenie) be terminated immediately?

If the contract is silent on a notice term, a mandate can generally be terminated at any time. When the contract provides a term, that clause applies.

Does notice have to be filed in writing?

Yes, notice is filed in writing. It is best to settle the submission date and the end of the notice period right away with the coordinator or the HR department. Under a mandate contract, the notice rules follow from the contract.

This text describes the general rules. What you are entitled to depends on your type of contract: an employment contract (umowa o pracę) or a contract of mandate (umowa zlecenie). Your own contract and payslip are what count.

This article is for information only and does not constitute legal advice. The rules change, and the outcome depends on the situation of the particular person, so check the current legal position or consult a lawyer before making a decision.