A growing number of companies are introducing attendance bonuses of up to 700 PLN, but experts and labor authorities warn that these incentives may unfairly penalize employees for unavoidable absences.
The Mechanism Behind the Bonus
In 2026, an increasing number of companies are offering monthly bonuses ranging from 500 to 700 PLN to employees who maintain perfect attendance. To qualify, workers must avoid taking sick leave, emergency leave, caregiver leave, or time off due to force majeure.
Employers view this as a necessary tool to combat absenteeism, which causes operational disruptions and increased costs. However, critics argue this creates a “dark side,” effectively acting as a penalty for those facing uncontrollable life events.
Legal and Ethical Dilemmas
Legal experts and the National Labor Inspectorate (PIP) warn that these schemes may violate the principle of equal treatment. Employees who fall ill or must care for a hospitalized child are effectively punished for using their statutory rights, forcing them into a choice between their health and their paycheck.
The Ministry of Family, Labor, and Social Policy has spoken out against the practice. Minister Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk argues that rewarding employees for not being sick contradicts modern labor laws and encourages “presenteeism,” where workers report for duty while ill, endangering both themselves and their colleagues.
Structuring Fair Compensation
While companies have the right to implement bonus systems, they must ensure criteria do not restrict rights guaranteed by the Labor Code. Regulations that indirectly discriminate against employees with legitimate, unavoidable reasons for absence risk being challenged in labor courts.
To avoid conflict and legal scrutiny, experts suggest that incentive programs should incorporate specific exceptions for scenarios like workplace accidents, hospitalizations, or critical child care. Without such provisions, these bonuses may become a source of litigation rather than motivation.