Are you being systematically belittled, intimidated, or excluded at work in Poland? Polish labour law protects every worker — including foreign temporary workers — from mobbing (workplace harassment). This guide explains what mobbing is, how to prove it, and what you can do.
What Is Mobbing Under Polish Law?
Article 94³ of the Polish Labour Code defines mobbing as actions or conduct directed at an employee that involve persistent and prolonged harassment or intimidation, resulting in a lowered professional self-assessment, and aimed at humiliating, ridiculing, isolating, or eliminating the employee from the team.
The key element: the behaviour must be repeated and ongoing — typically over a period of weeks or months. A single difficult interaction does not constitute mobbing.
Examples of Behaviour That May Constitute Mobbing
- Systematic insults or humiliation in front of colleagues
- Deliberately obstructing your work (withholding tools, contradictory orders)
- Being ignored, excluded from team communication, or socially isolated
- Unjustified or disproportionate criticism of every action you take
- Threats of dismissal or worsened working conditions
- Discrimination based on nationality or language
What Is NOT Mobbing
- A one-off argument with your supervisor
- Normal performance reviews and constructive criticism
- Work instructions you disagree with
- A demanding management style that does not involve systematic harassment
How to Document Mobbing
Documentation is essential for proving a mobbing claim:
- Keep a written log of incidents — record the date, time, location, and any witnesses for each event.
- Save all relevant messages (SMS, email, WhatsApp) where the harassment occurs.
- Note the names of colleagues willing to corroborate what they witnessed.
- Keep any written documents — notes, written warnings, performance reviews.
The Employer Is Liable for Mobbing
Polish law places a strict obligation on employers to prevent mobbing. If mobbing occurs, the employer is liable — even if the harasser is another employee or manager, not the employer directly.
What Can You Do?
- Report it to your employer (in writing to HR or management) — this gives the employer a chance to intervene and creates a paper trail.
- File a complaint with PIP (State Labour Inspectorate) — free, confidential inspection (pip.gov.pl).
- Take the case to a labour court — you are entitled to claim:
– compensation for harm suffered (minimum: one month's minimum wage),
– or termination of employment contract for the employer's fault, plus severance.
Protection Against Retaliation
Your employer cannot dismiss you for filing a mobbing complaint. Retaliatory dismissal is itself discrimination and entitles you to additional compensation under Polish law.
Need Help? Contact Nexflow
- Nexflow: contact your coordinator — we stand with the worker.
- SIP (Association for Legal Intervention): free legal aid for foreigners in Poland.
- PIP: pip.gov.pl — file online, available 24/7.