August Night Shift Allowance Can Reach Nearly 1,000 PLN Under Polish Labor Code

Certain employees working exclusively night shifts in August 2026 may receive a statutory gross allowance of up to 961.60 PLN, which employers are strictly obligated to calculate and pay.

August Night Shift Allowance Rates

Part of the workforce may receive a significantly higher payout in August 2026, with statutory night shift allowances potentially reaching 961.60 PLN gross for 160 hours of work. This compensation is neither a discretionary bonus nor a goodwill payment, as the right to additional remuneration stems directly from the Labor Code, requiring employers to account for every hour worked during designated night hours.

August is among the months in 2026 where the hourly rate for night work is highest. Under Article 151^8 of the Labor Code, employees performing duties at night are entitled to an allowance equal to 20 percent of the hourly rate derived from the minimum wage for each hour worked.

Calculation Basis for 2026

Starting January 1, 2026, the minimum wage is 4,806 PLN gross monthly. The night allowance is calculated by dividing the minimum salary by the total working hours in a given month and taking 20 percent of that hourly rate.

With a nominal working time of 160 hours in August 2026, the calculation yields 4,806 PLN divided by 160 hours, resulting in 30.0375 PLN. Taking 20 percent of this amount gives 6.0075 PLN, which rounds up to 6.01 PLN gross per hour of night work.

Working Hours and Actual Proportions

If all 160 working hours of an employee fall within the employer’s designated night hours, the total allowance calculated at 6.01 PLN amounts to 961.60 PLN gross. The actual amount depends on the hours effectively worked at night, meaning an employee working 80 night hours receives roughly half that amount.

Definition of Night Hours

It is crucial to distinguish between the broad timeframe indicated by the Labor Code and the specific night hours established in a given workplace. The regulations do not mean that any work performed between 9 PM and 7 AM automatically grants the right to an allowance for all ten hours.

Night hours cover exactly eight hours falling between 9 PM and 7 AM, and the employer determines which eight hours constitute the night shift, such as from 10 PM to 6 AM or 9 PM to 5 PM. Only hours actually worked within this designated period serve as the basis for calculating the statutory allowance, which the National Labor Inspectorate confirms is due for every such hour.

Monthly Fluctuations in Allowances

The night work allowance amount is not identical throughout the year, even though the 2026 minimum wage remains at 4,806 PLN gross, because the number of working hours varies by month. A smaller nominal working time results in a higher hourly calculation base and a higher allowance, making August one of the months with the highest night allowance rates in 2026, compared to July when the rate was 5.22 PLN per hour for 184 working hours.

Independence from Individual Salary

The statutory minimum is calculated based on the general minimum wage rather than an individual employee’s salary, meaning staff earning significantly more than 4,806 PLN gross retain the right to at least the statutory allowance. Company regulations, remuneration bylaws, collective agreements, or employment contracts may provide more favorable terms, but the Labor Code establishes a minimum level that employers cannot lower.

The night work allowance is a component of remuneration due for performed work, meaning no separate application is required if time and attendance records confirm duties were carried out during designated night hours.

Special protections apply to certain workers, such as pregnant employees who cannot be assigned night work under any circumstances, requiring employers to adjust schedules or reassign them, or grant paid leave if necessary. Employees raising children under eight years of age cannot be assigned night work without their consent, and employees with disabilities generally face a prohibition on night and overtime work with specific statutory exceptions regarding guards or voluntary requests supported by occupational physician approval.

Juvenile workers are entirely prohibited from working night shifts under stricter regulations designed to protect their health and education. Employers organizing shift work must account for individual employee statuses during schedule preparation, as the right to a night allowance does not grant unrestricted freedom to assign staff to night duties.