Many people working in warehouses and logistics in Poland regularly work weekends. Is it legal? How much should you earn for Saturday or Sunday work? What rights do you have as a temporary worker? This guide answers the key questions.
Working on Saturdays — What Does the Law Say?
Saturday has no special legal protection in the Polish Labour Code (Kodeks pracy), unlike Sunday. There is no law that prohibits working on Saturdays. However, most employees have a 5-day working week (typically Monday–Friday). If your schedule runs Monday to Friday, Saturday work may be classified as overtime or as a planned shift within a rotating schedule.
Shift work: If you work on a shift (rotating) schedule, Saturday can be a normal working day under your rota. In that case, it is not overtime. Shift-based work is common in logistics and warehousing — and is fully legal.
Working on Sundays — Is It Allowed?
Article 151⁹ of the Polish Labour Code generally prohibits Sunday work. However, Article 151¹⁰ provides a list of exceptions. Sunday work is permitted in, among others:
- Continuous production (e.g. factories that cannot be shut down)
- Shift work systems, where the organisation of work requires it
- Transport and communications
- Hospitality (hotels and restaurants)
- Healthcare facilities
- Security and property protection
Logistics and warehousing: Logistics centres most commonly qualify for the exception due to shift work or continuous operations. As a Nexflow temporary worker, you may be assigned to Sunday work if the client employer meets the legal conditions — and in warehouse/logistics this is almost always the case.
Pay for Sunday Work
For working on Sunday, you are entitled to one of two things (Articles 151¹¹–151¹² of the Labour Code):
- A day off in lieu — the employer must give you a free day within 6 weeks after the Sunday worked (preferably in the week immediately before or after it).
- If no day off is given — you are entitled to an allowance of 100% of your hourly rate for each hour worked on Sunday.
These rights do not cancel out overtime rights. If you exceeded your normal working hours on Sunday, you are entitled to the Sunday allowance/day off AND overtime pay simultaneously.
Weekly Rest Period
Polish law guarantees every worker at least 35 consecutive hours of rest per week (Article 133 of the Labour Code), which should generally include Sunday. For shift workers, the minimum weekly rest may be 24 consecutive hours, but the employer must "compensate" for the reduced rest period.
Check Your Payslip
Sunday work and any overtime hours should be clearly shown on your payslip (pasek wypłaty). If you worked on Sunday and do not see a corresponding allowance or a recorded day off, contact Nexflow — our advisers will check your calculation.
Summary
- Saturday work is generally permitted; depending on your schedule it may be a planned shift or overtime.
- Sunday work requires meeting the conditions of the Labour Code, but in logistics it is routinely permitted.
- For Sunday work you are entitled to a day off in lieu or a 100% pay supplement.
- Weekly uninterrupted rest must be at least 35 hours.
Nexflow ensures that all temporary workers are employed in compliance with Polish law. Questions about your schedule or pay? Write to us — we are here to help.