Changes in Legislation: New Rules for Calculating Long-Service Allowances in the Public Sector

From 1 January 2026, changes will come into force in Poland regarding the calculation of long-service allowances for public sector employees. These changes result from new regulations signed by the President of the Republic of Poland, which significantly expand the list of periods that are taken into account when calculating length of service. In this article, we will look at what is changing and how it will affect public sector employees.

New rules for calculating allowances

The long-service allowance is an important part of the remuneration system for employees working in the public sector, such as civil servants, teachers and healthcare workers. Under the new rules, the length of service that entitles an employee to this allowance will include not only traditional employment relationships, but also other forms of work, such as:

• periods of self-employment
• cooperation with companies under arrangements other than an employment contract
• work under civil-law contracts
• time spent on maternity/parental leave
• participation in agricultural cooperatives
• work abroad, if it is documented

These changes are intended to create a fairer calculation system that reflects the diversity of career paths employees may have.

How will this affect employees?

Under the new rules, employees who previously could not include certain periods of their professional activity will now be able to count on a higher allowance. For example, if an employee had 5 years of self-employment and then 5 years of work under an employment contract, their total length of service will be 10 years, which will automatically increase their allowance.

Examples of changes in allowance calculation

Let’s look at an example:
Ms Violeta worked for herself for 5 years and then spent 5 years working as a specialist in a municipal office. Under the new rules, her long-service allowance will be 10% of her monthly salary, as her length of service now also includes the years of self-employment.

Conclusion

These changes to labour legislation are an important step towards improving working conditions in the public sector. They will not only help to increase employees’ standard of living, but will also contribute to a fairer assessment of their work contribution. Public sector employees should be prepared for these changes and familiarise themselves with the new rules in order to make full use of their rights.

Keywords: calculation of allowances, long-service work, public sector, employment relations, length of service, changes in legislation.