Sunday and Saturday Work is permitted in sectors such as retail, services, and communications. This means that both public transport drivers and store employees can work on both Saturdays and Sundays. These individuals are then entitled to take another day off during the week. The situation is entirely different for employees who work from Monday to Friday.
Sunday and Saturday Work – What Does the Labor Code Say?
According to the Labor Code, Saturday Work is possible in two scenarios:
- During a rescue operation, to protect property or the environment, or to remove a breakdown.
- Due to the employer's specific needs.
Regarding the 40-hour workweek and Saturday work, if an employee working under a standard schedule (Monday to Friday) works on a Saturday, they are entitled to receive a compensatory day off from their employer. It’s important to note that the Labor Code emphasizes a strong connection between working on a Saturday and receiving a day off, but there is no mention of additional pay. However, employees are entitled to a day off as compensation regardless of how many hours they worked on that Saturday. This means that even if a full-time employee worked only two hours on Saturday, they are still entitled to a full day off. Compensation for Saturday work is only granted if the employee worked more than eight hours that day. If there were overtime hours on Saturday, the employee is entitled not only to a day off but also to overtime pay. Overtime on Saturdays is compensated with a 50% bonus for each additional hour.
As for Sunday work, the employee should also receive a day off, and for overtime, they are entitled to a 100% bonus. Usually, working on Saturdays and Sundays does not come with extra pay. The exception is when the employee cannot take the compensatory day off before the end of the accounting period (e.g., due to illness). It is also worth noting that for those on a task-specific or freelance contract, working on Saturdays and Sundays does not entitle them to a day off, additional pay, or any other form of compensation, as these contracts are regulated by the Civil Code, not the Labor Code.
See also: What Days Are Holidays in Poland?
Equivalent Working Time and Saturday work
According to the Labor Code, Sunday and Saturday Work is permitted in sectors such as transport, communications, shift work, agriculture, catering, retail, and services. In the equivalent working time system, employees can work on both Saturdays and Sundays, with the entitlement to other days off in return. For overtime on Saturdays in the equivalent working time system, the bonus is 50%, while for overtime on Sundays, it is 100%, as in the standard system.
It’s important to note that in the equivalent working time system, the employer is not required to pay for overtime if it falls within the employee’s scheduled hours. Therefore, in some weeks, an employee may work 48 hours, while in other weeks, they may work only 32 hours. Daily working hours may sometimes be extended to 12, 16, or even 24 hours. Consequently, Sunday and Saturday Work may be part of the work schedule, meaning the employee is not always entitled to a day off or overtime pay.
Is Working on Saturdays Considered Overtime?
Not all jobs can be confined to Monday through Friday. It’s hard to imagine restaurants or cultural venues closing every Saturday and Sunday. People who choose to work in such environments are usually informed upfront that they will be working on weekends. Some may assume that simply working on a Saturday or Sunday qualifies as overtime, but this is not necessarily the case.
Saturday overtime only applies when work exceeds the set standard—usually 8 hours—or when daily working hours are extended. Only in these cases can employees expect additional pay. The same rules apply to employees in a task-based working time system. In such cases, the Labor Code also requires that work tasks do not exceed 40 hours per week.
Good to Know: What Taxes Do You Have to Pay When Working in Poland?
A Day Off for a Holiday on Saturday – How Does It Work?
A unique situation arises when a day off is granted in exchange for a public holiday that falls on a Saturday. For example, if Constitution Day (May 3rd) falls on a Saturday and the regular working week is Monday through Friday, the employee is entitled to an additional day off during the workweek. How does this apply to employees who, due to the nature of their industry, work on Saturdays? For them, a public holiday falling on a Saturday will simply be a day off, without the option to take an additional day off later.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
What does a Saturday job mean?
A Saturday job includes any regular hours worked between midnight on Friday and midnight on Saturday. In some cases, it may refer to time worked between 7:00 a.m. on Saturday and 7:00 a.m. on Sunday.
What is the meaning of working on Saturday?
Working on Saturday refers to a mandatory shift paid at overtime rates. These Saturday shifts are scheduled according to the Project calendar.
What is the meaning of Saturday shift?
A Saturday shift involves regular hours worked between midnight on Friday and midnight on Saturday.
Is working on Saturdays mandatory?
Working on Saturdays is mandatory in sectors such as catering, cultural services, or communications, which generally operate from Monday through Sunday. In other sectors, working on Saturdays may be required if the employer considers it necessary for business operations.
Is Saturday work paid at 100% or 50%?
Saturday overtime is compensated at 50%. This means that employees who work on Saturday but do not exceed the standard 8-hour limit will not receive additional pay.
When will I receive 100% overtime pay?
You will receive 100% overtime pay when your regular working hours are exceeded on a Sunday.
