It is common knowledge that employees sometimes take sick leave. When we feel illness taking hold, the best idea is to consult a specialist and rest for a few days, free from workplace responsibilities. However, many people choose not to take sick leave for a straightforward reason: sick pay does not cover 100% of their salary. This reduction is unfeasible for many employees, leading them to work despite having colds or coughs.

Following the new government coalition's assumption of power on 15 October, Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk promised to introduce reforms to paid sick leave. The Minister for Family, Labour, and Social Policy is now moving to fulfil this commitment. On Wednesday, 16 October, preliminary details were shared regarding anticipated changes, with the government proposing new regulations on sick leave wages and the entity responsible for paying them.

Currently, employees on sick leave receive only 80% of their monthly salary. For many, this is perceived as unfair, particularly for those facing chronic illnesses that require lengthy and complicated treatments. Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk has expressed her desire for full salary payments during illness, emphasising that no one should be penalised for needing hospitalisation or extended bed rest. However, this proposed change has not yet been incorporated into the draft legislation.

The draft legislation also seeks to amend the role of the Social Insurance Institution (Polish: Zakład Ubezpieczeń Społecznych, ZUS) in monitoring the validity of sick leave. Under the new proposal, ZUS would cover sick leave payments from the first day of illness. According to radiozet.pl, currently, employers are responsible for financing employees' sick leave for the first 33 days (14 days for those over 50), after which ZUS begins paying the benefit from the 34th day onward.

Source: radiozet.pl