How to calculate the end of your notice period
- 1.
Choose the contract type
Indefinite and fixed-term contracts have the same notice periods; probationary contracts have shorter ones.
- 2.
Enter the notice date
What counts is the day the other party received the notice, not the day it was written.
- 3.
Enter your start date
The calculator works out your service with this employer and picks the period: 2 weeks, 1 month or 3 months.
- 4.
Read the end date
You see your last day of work. With 3 months of notice you can also check shortening under Art. 36¹.
How long is the notice period in Poland?
For indefinite and fixed-term employment contracts (umowa o pracę), the notice period depends only on your service with this employer (Art. 36 § 1 Labour Code). It is the same whether you resign or the employer dismisses you, and it applies to foreign employees in exactly the same way.
| Service with employer | Notice period |
|---|---|
| less than 6 months | 2 weeks |
| at least 6 months | 1 month |
| at least 3 years | 3 months |
Probationary contracts (Art. 34): 3 working days if probation is up to 2 weeks, 1 week if longer than 2 weeks, 2 weeks for a 3-month probation. Service includes all employment contracts with the same employer and time with a previous employer if the business was transferred. B2B and civil law contracts follow their own terms.
How notice is counted: Saturdays and month ends
Notice counted in weeks always ends on a Saturday, and notice counted in months on the last day of a month (Art. 30 § 2¹).
- Weeks: the period starts on the Sunday after notice is served. Two weeks served on Monday 12 October 2026 run from 18 October and end on Saturday 31 October 2026. Served on Sunday 18 October, they end on 7 November.
- Months: the period starts on the 1st of the following month. One month served on 1 October or on 31 October ends the same day - 30 November. Served on 31 January 2026, it ends on 28 February 2026.
- Working days: Saturdays, Sundays and holidays are skipped. Three working days served on Friday 16 October 2026 end on Wednesday 21 October.
That is why it pays to hand in your resignation before the month ends - serving it on the 1st adds almost a whole month of work.
Longer notice when your service grows during it
If you reach 6 months or 3 years of service while the notice is running, the prevailing view of the courts and the National Labour Inspectorate (PIP) is that the longer period applies. Example: you started on 1 May 2026 and receive notice on 12 October 2026. With 5 months of service, notice would be 2 weeks (until 31 October). But on 31 October you complete 6 months, so notice extends to 1 month and the contract ends on 30 November 2026. The calculator checks this automatically and warns you.
Shortened notice (Art. 36¹)
When notice is given because of the employer's bankruptcy or liquidation or for other reasons not related to the employee, the employer may shorten a 3-month notice period to no less than 1 month. For the remaining time you receive compensation equal to your pay, and that time still counts as service. Example: an employee with 6 years of service receives notice on 12 October 2026. Normally the contract would end on 31 January 2027; shortened to 1 month it ends on 30 November 2026, with 2 months of compensation.
Dismissal for reasons not related to you also brings severance - see the severance pay calculator. To plan remaining days off, use the annual leave calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is the notice period after 2 years of work in Poland?
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When does the notice period start?
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Is the notice period different for a fixed-term contract?
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What is the notice period on a probationary contract?
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Can the notice period be shortened?
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What if I hand in notice on the last day of the month?
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