Polish ministry clarifies employers must include prior contract work in company tenure without demanding ZUS certificates.
Company Tenure Changes Effective January 1, 2026
Company tenure impacts notice periods and severance payouts under group layoff regulations. While employers may offer additional benefits based on tenure, the new law explicitly includes prior contract work and business activities performed for the current employer. Public finance sector employers must comply from January 1, 2026; others from May 1, 2026.
What Counts Towards Employment Period?
New regulations recognize periods including: prior employment contracts, service agreements (zlecenie), and business activities performed for the current employer. These contribute to both overall and company-specific tenure, particularly benefiting those who transitioned from contract work or B2B relationships into employment.
Calculating Company Tenure: Employer Obligations
Employers must automatically include previous service agreements performed for them in company tenure if documentation exists. Workers need not provide ZUS certificates in this case. If records are unavailable, workers must submit ZUS certificates or alternative proof, such as for student workers under 26.
Contract Work Before Employment
For prior service agreements with the current employer, employers must include the period if internal documents exist. ZUS certificates are unnecessary unless documentation is lost. Workers must then provide ZUS certificates or other evidence to confirm the period.
Business Activities Before Employment
Rules differ for business activities. If contributions were paid, employers need ZUS certificates to verify compliance. For those using the “start-up allowance” exemption, only health insurance registration is documented by ZUS, making automatic inclusion impossible without proof of paid contributions.