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Polish president signs remote-work bill into law

30.01.2023 17:00
Poland’s president has signed into law a new bill that regulates remote working as well as giving employers powers to check the sobriety of the workers. 
Polands President Andrzej Duda on Monday signed into law a new bill that regulates telework as well as giving employers powers to check the sobriety of the workers.
Poland’s President Andrzej Duda on Monday signed into law a new bill that regulates telework as well as giving employers powers to check the sobriety of the workers. Microbiz Mag, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons; Image: https://www.microbizmag.co.uk/

Andrzej Duda approved the legislation on Monday, Polish state news agency PAP reported. 

Remote work will now be enshrined in Poland’s Labour Code, defined as “work performed entirely or partly in a place chosen by the employee and agreed on with the employer, including at the employee’s place of residence, in particular using means of remote communication,” as cited by PAP.

Under the new legislation, staff will be allowed to work remotely on a full-time or part-time basis, depending on the needs of the given employee and employer, including in emergency situations such as the outbreak of an epidemic or when the worker needs to look after a relative, reporters were told.

Remote-work arrangements will have to be offered to parents of children of up to four years of age; parents and carers of people with disabilities; and pregnant women.

The rule applies unless the work in question, due to its nature or organisation, cannot be performed remotely, for instance the work of police, fire service and other uniformed services, according to the new legislation.

Employers given powers to test employees for alcohol    

The new legislation also grants employers and the police powers to test employees for alcohol and similar substances, if it is necessary to protect the life and health of workers, other people or property.

Employees who test positive for alcohol or similar substances will not be allowed to work, under the new rules.    

The sobriety-testing regulations will come into force 14 days after the new legislation is published.

Meanwhile, the new remote-work rules will come into effect two months after the new legislation is published, the PAP news agency reported.  

(pm)

Source: PAP, dziennik.pl, bankier.pl

Image: https://www.microbizmag.co.uk/