Poland: Performance of work during quarantine

During the course of the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland in many cases a majority of employees of a given workplace had to be quarantined. In such cases, the workplaces have been practically unable to operate. Therefore, many employers chose to entrust quarantined workers with work to do at home, where practicable. Such situations were difficult to assess form the legal point of view, as there were no legal provisions in place that would refer to this matter. The subject was, however, regulated by the act that came into force on 29 November 2020.

According to the new regulation, during the state of an epidemic threat or the state epidemic announced in the country, employees and workers subject to obligatory quarantine may, with the consent of the employer, provide remote work specified in their employment contract and receive remuneration on this account. It was also indicated that in case of work during quarantine, the employee shall not be entitled to sickness benefit.

The reception of the new provisions was quite enthusiastic, as they indicate a solution to an issue that had been doubtful was problematic in practice.

For more information on these articles or any other issues involving labour and employment matters in Poland, please contact Prof. Arkadiusz Sobczyk (Partner) of Sobczyk & Partners Law Firm at arkadiusz.sobczyk@sobczyk.com.pl or visit www.sobczyk.com.pl.