Prawne aspekty skrócenia czasu pracy
Legal aspects of shortening working hours

Summary/Abstract: The Polish labor market is undergoing changes driven by global trends and social evolution. Given technological advances and a growing awareness of the importance of work‑life balance, calls for shorter working hours or the introduction of a four‑day workweek are gaining momentum. The arguments for these changes primarily include improved employee health, increased productivity, and improved quality of life. International experiences, including those from Iceland and the United Kingdom, demonstrate that shortening working hours can lead to increased productivity and satisfaction without increasing costs. The aim of this paper is to analyze the legal regulations in force in Poland that allow for the possibility of shortening working hours and to present proposed changes in this regard. Furthermore, an attempt is made to identify the potential benefits and challenges for labor market participants related to the planned changes to working time standards. The paper outlines proposed legal models for shortening working hours, including reducing the daily working time standard, limiting the workweek to four days, and introducing additional days off. The role of the pilot project, which will allow for the identification of risks and, based on the collected data, the development of comprehensive legal regulations that will precisely define the forms and principles of shortened working hours, is highlighted. It is pointed out that the introduction of shortened working hours in Poland is a non‑destructive process, but requires a phased and coherent approach.

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