Termination of an employment contract: how to resign from a job in Poland

Many Ukrainians have found work in Poland, but not all of them know how to properly terminate employment relations on the territory of another country. Find out how to properly file a dismissal from work in Poland

Legal assistance on employment issues for Ukrainians

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Every employed person sooner or later terminates their employment relationship. It is important to know your rights in order to avoid negative consequences when leaving a job, and understanding labour law is extremely important when working abroad.

We have prepared answers to the most frequently asked questions about terminating employment relationships in Poland.

How to terminate Umowa o dzieło and Umowa zlecenia contracts?

Civil law contracts are governed by the Civil Code of Poland, so the procedure for their termination differs from that of a classic employment contract. If the employer has specified the terms of termination in the document, the parties must comply with them.

Such agreements may be terminated:

– By mutual agreement of the parties. The most common option is to conclude a short written agreement specifying the date of termination of cooperation;

– Unilaterally. If permitted by the terms of the contract or in the event of a material breach of obligations.

The law does not establish a fixed notice period, but it is advisable to specify it when concluding the contract in order to avoid disputes.

Termination by mutual agreement

Umowa o dzieło and Umowa zlecenia may be terminated by mutual agreement. To do this, a document is drawn up specifying the date of termination of the relationship, possible compensation, and the calculation procedure. Mutual claims are not considered after the signing of such a document.

A similar practice applies to employment contracts (Umowa o pracę): termination za porozumieniem stron is considered the most convenient, as the date of dismissal is agreed individually without a mandatory notice period. This option is often chosen by employees who already have a new job offer.

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Dismissal at the initiative of the employer or employee

In Poland, dismissal is possible both at the employee's own request and at the employer's initiative.

Written notification is mandatory. The application must clearly state the date of submission and the desired date of termination of the contract. It can be delivered in person or sent by post with confirmation of receipt.

The notice period depends on the length of service:

– up to 6 months — 2 weeks;

– from 6 months to 3 years — 1 month;

– over 3 years — 3 months.

For probationary contracts, shorter notice periods apply — from 3 days to 2 weeks, depending on the duration of the contract.

By agreement between the parties, the notice period may be shortened.

If disputes arise after dismissal (e.g. regarding payments or the reason for termination), they can be resolved in court or with the help of the Polish State Labour Inspectorate (Państwowa Inspekcja Pracy).

How to terminate an employment contract (Umowa o pracy)?

This contract is regulated by the Polish Labour Code, which guarantees the employee the highest level of legal protection.

It can be concluded:

– for a fixed term,

– for an indefinite term,

– for a probationary period.

After dismissal, the employer is obliged to provide the employee with:

– a salary calculation;

– compensation for unused leave;

– a Świadectwo pracy certificate — equivalent to an employment record book.

If the employer does not issue the documents or does not make the calculation, the employee has the right to file a complaint with the labour inspectorate.

Who can be dismissed without notice?

Without prior notice, the employer may terminate the contract only in exceptional cases provided for by law:

– prolonged absence without good reason;

– gross violation of labour discipline;

– committing a crime while performing duties.

In such a situation, the employee has the right to appeal the decision in court within 21 days from the date of receipt of the notice.

Who cannot be dismissed in Poland?

Polish labour law clearly defines the categories of persons who cannot be dismissed:

– pregnant women;

– women on maternity leave;

– persons on sick leave (up to 182 days);

– employees of pre-retirement age, if they are less than 4 years away from retirement and have the required length of service.

Is there an employment record book in Poland?

In Poland, there is an analogue of an employment record book — Świadectwo pracy. After dismissal, the employer issues it on the day of termination of cooperation or sends it by post.

The document specifies:

– position and length of service in the company;

– holidays, sick leave, rate of pay;

– reason for dismissal.

If the employee finds an error, they can submit a request for correction within 14 days. In case of refusal, they can appeal to the Państwowa Inspekcja Pracy (State Labour Inspectorate) or to the court.

What to do after dismissal?

After the termination of employment, the employee may:

– register with the district employment centre (Powiatowy Urząd Pracy);

– receive unemployment benefits if they have worked for at least 365 days during the last 18 months;

– take advantage of retraining or job search programmes.

The amount of payments and the duration of assistance depend on the reasons for dismissal — whether it was initiated by the employer or the employee — and on the length of service.

What should you pay attention to when formalising your dismissal?

To avoid misunderstandings:

– keep a copy of the submitted application with the employer's signature or confirmation of receipt of the letter;

– request a Świadectwo pracy certificate on the day of dismissal;

– make sure that all calculations (holidays, salary, bonuses) are correct;

– in case of delay in receiving documents or refusal to pay, contact Państwowa Inspekcja Pracy or the court.

If you plan to resign from your job in Poland, have a dispute with your employer or need to check the terms of your contract, contact the lawyers at Visit Ukraine.

Our specialists will help you prepare a resignation letter, verify the legality of your employer's actions, obtain the appropriate payments, and protect your rights.

Book a consultation now and resolve the issue legally and stress-free with Visit Ukraine!

Reminder! ZUS in Poland has announced a new control system for recipients of 800+ benefits, including Ukrainians. From 2026, only those who work and actually live in Poland will be eligible for payments. Who will be affected by the checks and what new rules will apply — we explain here.

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