The procedure and initial conditions of employment in Poland are largely the same as in other countries with the conclusion of an employment contract, passing a medical examination, training on occupational health and safety, etc. However, there are some features that should be taken into account when applying for a job and employment in Poland.

Below are the main conditions that must be observed when applying for employment under an employment contract (umowa o pracę). Other contracts, such as an agency contract (umowa zlecenie) or an order contract (umowa o dzieło) may contain other conditions for the work performed and services provided.

The main document that the employer must provide to the employee is the employment contract. It must indicate the type of work, the place of its performance, the amount of remuneration due (together with an indication of its individual components), the number of hours worked and the date the work began. An employment contract can be concluded for a trial period, for a fixed or indefinite period.

The minimum wage is an important condition that must be taken into account and observed when concluding an employment contract. In 2022, the minimum wage in Poland is set at PLN 3,010. Also, the average (minimum) wages differ depending on the type of economic activity and regions of the country.

In addition to the employment contract, the employer is obliged, within 7 days from the date of its conclusion, to prepare and provide the employee with information on the conditions of employment:

• daily and weekly working hours of the employee (for example, 40 hours per week, 8 hours per day),
• frequency of payment of remuneration for work (for example, once a month, before the 10th day of the next calendar month),
• the amount of annual leave (for example, 24 days in a calendar year),
• the length of the notice period for termination of the employment contract applicable to the employee (for example, 1 month),
• collective labour agreement. If the employer does not have a collective labour agreement or labour regulations, then the information on the conditions of employment should contain additional provisions regarding work at night, payment of remuneration (place, time and date), method of confirming arrival and presence / absence at work.

Changes that are subsequently made to the conditions of employment of the employee must be communicated to the employee immediately, no later than 1 month from the date of entry into these changes.

Any changes to the terms of the employment contract must also be made in writing.

In order for an employee to be able to start work, they must undergo a medical examination (badania wstępne do pracy), о(badania wstępne do pracy), the extent of which depends on the work performed. The medical examination takes place according to the referral issued by the employer to the employee and is paid by the employer. In the future, periodic or control medical examinations are carried out.

The employee also needs to undergo an occupational health and safety training (bezpieczeństwo i higiena pracy, BHP). О(bezpieczeństwo i higiena pracy, BHP). Occupational health and safety training is also paid by the employer. The initial training on occupational health and safety is carried out on the day the work begins. Periodic trainings are held at a time depending on the position of the employee, for example, every 1, 3 or more years.

Modern technologies make it possible to receive training in occupational health and safety (for a number of professions, for example, administrative, managerial, information technology) online.

Preliminary medical examinations and training on occupational health and safety are not required for persons hired by the same employer, for the same position or for a position with the same working conditions, if the next employment contract is concluded within 30 days after termination or expiration of the previous contract with this employer.

It is the responsibility of the employer to register the employee with the social insurance institution (Zakład Ubezpieczeń Społecznych, ZUS) within 7 days from the date of beginning of work in order to receive insurance benefits in case of illness, disability, pension, job loss. The employee is also provided with information on participation in supplementary pension insurance (Pracownicze Plany Kapitałowy, PPK).

In order to reflect the salary and payment of the employee's income tax, employee provides the employer with an individual PESEL tax number.

For foreigners, it is necessary to comply with the working conditions (position, employer, salary, full / part-time work) in accordance with the permit documents: oświadczenie, zezwolenie. It is also worth taking into account changes in the conditions of employment, for example, an annual increase in the minimum wage.