Working Hours and Overtime in Poland: 40 Hours, 150-Hour Limit and Extra Pay
How long you can be asked to work, when it is overtime, and what you must be paid for it under the Polish Labour Code.
8 h / 40 hdaily norm and average weekly norm
+50% / +100%overtime pay supplements
150 hdefault annual overtime limit per employee
Standard working time
Under the Labour Code (art. 129), working time may not exceed 8 hours a day and an average of 40 hours in an average five-day working week within the settlement period (up to 4 months, extendable to 12 in some cases). Including overtime, the average week may not exceed 48 hours (art. 131).
Overtime pay
Work above the norms is overtime. For each hour you get your normal pay plus a supplement (art. 1511):
+100% for overtime at night, on Sundays and public holidays that are not your working days, and on a day off given for working a Sunday or holiday;
+100% for exceeding the average weekly norm;
+50% for other overtime.
Instead of the supplement, you can get time off: hour for hour at your request, or 1.5 hours off per overtime hour when the employer decides.
Limits and rest
Default limit: 150 overtime hours per calendar year (art. 151 §3); a different limit can be set in workplace rules or the contract.
11 hours of uninterrupted daily rest (art. 132) and 35 hours of weekly rest (art. 133).
Night work: 8 hours between 21:00 and 07:00 as set by the employer; night workers get a supplement of 20% of the hourly minimum wage per night hour (art. 1518).
Contracts other than employment
These rules apply to umowa o pracę. On an umowa zlecenie you are entitled to the minimum hourly rate (31.40 zł in 2026), but not to Labour Code overtime pay; on B2B neither applies. Compare the options in Employment contracts in Poland.
If you are not paid
Unpaid overtime is a wage claim: write to the employer first, then contact the National Labour Inspectorate (PIP) or go to the labour court. Keep your own record of hours. See employee rights in Poland.
Frequently asked questions
What is the legal working week in Poland?
An average of 40 hours over a settlement period, with up to 8 hours a day; 48 hours on average including overtime.
How much is overtime paid in Poland?
Normal pay plus 50%, or plus 100% for nights, Sundays and holidays that are not your working days and for exceeding the weekly norm.
How many overtime hours are allowed?
By default 150 hours per calendar year per employee, unless workplace rules set another limit.
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