In July 2024, the city office in Leszno introduced a 35-hour workweek as part of an experiment. For nearly three months, city employees worked one hour less each day. The test was initially set to end in September, but a decision has been made to extend the experiment.
Leszno: 35-hour workweek to continue
"The reduction in working hours did not negatively impact the performance of duties; the departments are operating at full capacity, and employees have more time for their families, which they greatly appreciate. I thank them for allowing us to be pioneers of the 35-hour workweek, and I encourage other institutions in Leszno to implement similar pilot programs," said Leszno Mayor Grzegorz Rusiecki, as quoted by the elka.pl news service.
The 35-hour workweek will remain in place at the Leszno city office for the long term. Starting October 1, the office will be open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on other weekdays.
Włocławek implements a 35-hour workweek
Since September 1, Włocławek has also adopted a 35-hour workweek, which applies to city hall employees. Starting October 1, this new work schedule will extend to other institutions under the city’s jurisdiction. "I believe this is a long-term solution that, in a few years, will be standard across our country. This is not just some whimsical idea," said Włocławek Mayor Krzysztof Kukucki in an interview with TOK FM.
Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk, Minister of Family, Labor, and Social Policy from the New Left, explained in March that "shortening the workweek would be a social investment." She expressed hope that the workweek in Poland would be shortened during the current Sejm term. However, Krzysztof Paszyk, the Minister of Development and Technology from the Polish People's Party (PSL), had a different opinion. "I would caution Minister Dziemianowicz-Bąk against further pushing the idea of a 4-day workweek if she doesn't want to be remembered as the minister who led to the bankruptcy of hundreds of thousands of Polish businesses or caused a collapse in the labor market," he said.
