Is November 11 a working day after all? Who may work on the holiday and what they are owed

In brief

• November 11 is a statutory day off from work in Poland, but the Labour Code allows work on holidays in specific cases.
• Holiday work is compensated with another day off or additional pay, which can reach 100 percent of the wage.
• Employees should check their employment contract and the employer's work rules to confirm their entitlement.

Public holiday, with exceptions

November 11, Independence Day, is a statutory day off from work across Poland (11 listopada to dzień ustawowo wolny od pracy. Prawo przewiduje jednak wyjątki. Kto może pracować? – infor.pl). The Act on days free from work lists it among the country's 14 public holidays. The Labour Code, however, allows work on Sundays and holidays in narrowly defined situations. The rules are set out in articles 151⁹ to 151¹² of the code (Szef może zaskoczyć Cię przed 11 listopada. Sprawdź, czy musisz iść do pracy – Dziennik.pl) ([11 listopada jednak dniem pracującym? W tych przypadkach praca może być wykonywana w święto [LISTA] – Dziennik.pl](https://gospodarka.dziennik.pl/praca/artykuly/9663441,11-listopada-jednak-dniem-pracujacym-w-tych-przypadkach-praca-moze-byc-wykonywana-w-swieto-lista.html)).

Who may be scheduled

Under the code, work on a holiday covers duties performed between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. the following day, unless the employer has set a different period in its work rules (Praca w 11 listopada. Wielu Polaków nie ma pojęcia o tym przepisie. Szef może Cię zaskoczyć – gazetaprawna.pl). Such work is possible only in specific cases, such as jobs where interruption is not allowed or where continuous operation is required, including hospitals and other care facilities (Praca 11 listopada? Możesz dostać nawet 100 proc. dodatku do pensji! – se.pl).

Compensation for working on the holiday

An employee who works on a holiday is due either another day off or additional pay. Under the rules described in the press, the extra pay can reach 100 percent of the wage for the hours worked, and a day off is the usual alternative. Whether a given employee is entitled to the supplement depends on the employment contract or civil-law agreement, so workers should check their paperwork.

Shops and retail

Retail trade on public holidays is generally restricted. Employers who breach the ban on opening shops on that day face penalties under the rules that apply to trade on holidays.

What employees should check

Workers who are told to come in on November 11 should first look at the employer's work schedule and internal regulations, which may define the working hours for holidays. They can also confirm whether their role falls within the statutory exceptions and what compensation is due.