Maternity, parental and paternity leave in Poland: length and pay
Short answer: Employees in Poland get 20 weeks of maternity leave, up to 41 weeks of shared parental leave and 2 weeks of paternity leave, paid by ZUS at 70% to 100%.
If you work in Poland on an employment contract and have a baby, you are covered by some of the longest and best-paid family leaves in the EU. The rules come from the Labour Code and are explained by the Ministry of Family and by ZUS, which pays the cash benefit. This guide covers maternity leave, parental leave, paternity leave, how much you are paid and the job protection that goes with it. All figures are from gov.pl and ZUS pages read on 13 October 2026.
Maternity leave (urlop macierzyński)
Maternity leave is compulsory and belongs to every employee who has given birth, whatever type of employment contract she has. Its length depends on the number of children born at one birth:
- 20 weeks for one child
- 31 weeks for twins
- 33 weeks for triplets
- 35 weeks for four children
- 37 weeks for five or more
Up to 6 weeks can be taken before the due date. If you do not take any before the birth, leave starts on the day of birth. After the birth, the mother must take at least 14 weeks. She may give up the remaining 6 weeks and go back to work, but only if the father (an employee) takes them or an insured person who cares for the child does, and she must tell her employer in writing at least 7 days before returning.
Parental leave (urlop rodzicielski)
Parental leave is added after maternity leave and is shared by both parents:
- 41 weeks for one child
- 43 weeks for multiple births
- 65 or 67 weeks if the child holds the certificate under the "For Life" Act
The total applies to both parents together. Both can take it at the same time, as long as the total does not go over the limit. Each parent has an exclusive right to 9 weeks that cannot be transferred to the other parent. A parent who takes at least 9 weeks has used that part. An employee can give up parental leave at any time with the employer's agreement.
After it ends, the employer must take you back in your old position, or if that is not possible, in an equivalent one on terms no worse than before.
Paternity leave (urlop ojcowski)
An employee who is the father raising the child can take 2 weeks of paternity leave. He can use it at any time until the child reaches the age set in the Labour Code, even while the mother is on maternity leave. He asks in writing at least 7 days before it starts, and the employer must grant it. It can be taken in one block or in two parts of at least a week each. One week equals seven calendar days.
How much you are paid
During these leaves ZUS pays a maternity allowance (zasiłek macierzyński), based on your earlier pay. ZUS gives these rates:
- 100% of the basis for maternity leave and paternity leave.
- 70% for parental leave.
- 81.5% averaged over maternity and parental leave, if the mother applies within 21 days of the birth for the whole of maternity and parental leave, or declares she will use the full parental leave.
- The 9 weeks reserved for the other parent are paid at 70%, and cannot be put in the 81.5% option.
If a person chooses the 81.5% option but then uses no day of parental-leave allowance in the child's first year, ZUS pays the 70% rate for parental leave and a one-time top-up that raises the maternity-leave allowance to 100%, on request. Check the ZUS page for the full conditions, which also cover insured people who are not employees.
Job protection
The green-line employment portal explains that an employer cannot terminate or end your employment contract during pregnancy and during maternity, paternity and parental leave, with limited exceptions listed in the law. It also describes extra maternity leave for premature births, when the baby has to stay in hospital.
If the baby is in hospital
If the child needs hospital care, the mother who has already used 8 weeks of maternity leave after the birth can interrupt it and use the rest after the child leaves the hospital. The Labour Code sets out special cases too, such as the death of a child or the mother.
Practical steps
1. Talk to your employer early about your plans for each leave.
2. Decide how to split parental leave with the other parent, and what to claim within 21 days of the birth.
3. Check on the ZUS page how and where to claim the maternity allowance for your type of insurance.
4. Apply for the 800+ child benefit within 3 months of the birth (see our 800+ guide).
Frequently asked questions
How long is maternity leave in Poland?
20 weeks for one child, 31 for twins and more for larger multiple births.
How long is parental leave?
41 weeks for one child, shared between both parents, with 9 weeks reserved for each parent.
How long is paternity leave?
2 weeks for an employee father, in one block or two parts of a week each.
How much is the allowance?
100% for maternity and paternity leave, and 70% for parental leave. A combined 81.5% option exists if you apply within 21 days of birth.
Can I be dismissed on maternity leave?
The law protects employees from termination during pregnancy and these leaves, with limited exceptions.
