ShiftlyReviewed September 2026
The difference between these two contracts is not paperwork. It is paid leave, sick pay, overtime supplements and protection from being dismissed on the spot. Zlecenie is cheaper for the employer, and the difference comes out of you.
| Condition | Umowa o pracę | Umowa zlecenie |
|---|---|---|
| Paid holiday | 20 or 26 days | None by law |
| Sick pay | Yes | Only with the voluntary contribution |
| Overtime supplements | 50% and 100% | Only if agreed |
| Notice period | 2 weeks to 3 months | Can end immediately |
| Counts towards seniority | Yes | No |
| Protection in pregnancy | Yes | No |
Holiday is 20 days if your total seniority is under 10 years and 26 days from 10 years up — and study periods count towards that total, so check before assuming you are on 20.
A common misconception is that on zlecenie you are paid whatever was agreed. You are not: the law sets a minimum hourly rate for civil-law contracts as well. In 2026 it is 31.40 zł gross an hour, and from 1 January 2027 it is 32.30 zł.
Below that is a breach, and you can complain exactly as you would on an employment contract. The net figure lands between 24.66 and 25.36 zł (25.36–26.08 zł in 2027) depending on whether you pay the voluntary sickness contribution.
A contract is called whatever it is called, but a court looks at the substance. Fixed hours, the employer’s premises, working under their direction, and no right to send someone else in your place are the marks of an employment relationship, whatever the paper says.
Replacing an employment contract with a civil-law one is prohibited, and you can ask a court to recognise the relationship as employment — with the leave and supplements owed retroactively.
Not necessarily — for occasional work it genuinely is more flexible. But if this is your main job with a rota, price the difference: no holiday and no sick pay cost real money, you just pay it later.
On zlecenie the sickness contribution is optional. Skip it and there is no paid sick leave at all. Pay it and you take home roughly 0.70 zł less per hour but you are insured.
Pension and social contributions are normally paid, but zlecenie does not count towards staż pracy — the seniority that determines holiday length and notice periods.
A zlecenie with your own employer covering the same kind of work is generally treated as part of the employment relationship, which means the overtime rules follow it.
This page explains the general rules and is not legal advice. Your contract, collective agreement or work regulations may set terms more favourable than the statutory minimum. For a dispute, the National Labour Inspectorate (PIP) advises workers free of charge.