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HomeGuidesEmploymentLeave

Leave entitlement — rules and calculations

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Leave calculator — entitlement & cash equivalent

Table of contents

  • Basic entitlement: 20 or 26 days
  • Seniority for leave purposes
  • Education periods in seniority
  • First year of work
  • Proportional leave when changing jobs
  • Part‑time work — how to calculate
  • Leave on demand
  • Carried‑over leave and deadlines
  • Civil‑law contracts and leave
  • Leave planning and employer approval
  • Cash in lieu for unused leave
  • Example calculation
  • Calculate in practice
  • Common mistakes
  • See also
  • Sources
  • Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Leave entitlement depends mainly on seniority and working time. Below you will find clear rules, examples and guidance on when cash in lieu is due for unused leave.

Basic entitlement: 20 or 26 days

As a rule:

  • 20 days of leave up to 10 years of seniority,
  • 26 days of leave above 10 years of seniority.

The limit applies to working days. For other schedules, the actual roster is used.

Seniority for leave purposes

Seniority includes previous employment and certain education periods. It is the main factor that determines the move from 20 to 26 days. In practice, keep documents proving eligible periods.

Education periods in seniority

Some education periods may be included in seniority, but only within statutory limits. You do not simply add all schools — the most favorable legally‑allowed variant applies.

First year of work

In the first year, leave is accrued monthly at 1/12 of the annual entitlement. After the first year, leave is granted in advance for the whole calendar year.

Proportional leave when changing jobs

If you change employers during the year, leave is calculated proportionally to time worked for each employer. See proportional leave for examples.

Part‑time work — how to calculate

For part‑time employment, the entitlement is proportional. For example:

  • 1/2 time → 10 or 13 days,
  • 1/4 time → 5 or 7 days.

Partial days are rounded up to a full day. More details: leave for part‑time work.

Leave on demand

Leave on demand is part of annual leave. That means it counts within the 20/26‑day pool and does not increase the overall limit.

Carried‑over leave and deadlines

Unused leave carries over to the next year, but should be used within the statutory deadline in the following year. In practice it is best not to accumulate a large backlog without justification.

Civil‑law contracts and leave

Annual leave applies to employment contracts. For civil‑law contracts (e.g., mandate or specific task contracts), leave does not apply unless the contract explicitly provides it.

Leave planning and employer approval

In practice leave is granted according to a leave plan or an agreed date. An employer may refuse a proposed date for organizational reasons, but should offer an alternative term.

Cash in lieu for unused leave

Cash in lieu is paid when employment ends and the leave was not used. It is usually paid with the final salary. The calculation depends on the wage components and the official rules for the base amount.

Example calculation

An employee with 8 years of seniority on half‑time has 20 days in full‑time terms, which becomes 10 days after proportional calculation. In the first year, leave is accrued monthly.

Calculate in practice

Use the leave calculator to estimate entitlement and the cash equivalent for your case.

Common mistakes

  • ignoring eligible seniority periods,
  • rounding down partial days,
  • treating leave on demand as extra days,
  • skipping proportional rules after changing jobs.

See also

  • Proportional leave
  • Part‑time leave
  • Occasional leave

Sources

  • ISAP — Labour Code
  • PIP — annual leave
  • Regulation on cash equivalent

Try it in practice

Use our calculator — result in seconds, no registration required.

  • Leave calculator — entitlement & cash equivalent

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Ile dni urlopu przysługuje przy 10 latach stażu?+
Co do zasady 20 dni przy stażu do 10 lat i 26 dni przy stażu powyżej 10 lat, z uwzględnieniem okresów zaliczanych do stażu.
Czy urlop na żądanie wlicza się do puli 20/26 dni?+
Tak. Urlop na żądanie jest częścią urlopu wypoczynkowego i wlicza się do puli 20/26 dni.
Jak liczyć urlop w pierwszym roku pracy?+
Urlop nabywa się z upływem każdego miesiąca pracy w wymiarze 1/12 rocznego limitu.
Jak obliczyć urlop przy niepełnym etacie?+
Wymiar urlopu ustala się proporcjonalnie do etatu, a niepełne dni zaokrągla się w górę.
Kiedy wypłaca się ekwiwalent za niewykorzystany urlop?+
Przy rozwiązaniu lub wygaśnięciu umowy o pracę, gdy urlop nie został wykorzystany.

Related calculators

  • Leave calculator — entitlement & cash equivalent

Related guides

  • Proportional leave — how to calculate during the year
  • Part‑time leave — how to calculate entitlement
  • Occasional leave — when it applies and how many days
  • Maternity leave — rules, length and benefit
  • Parental leave — length, rules and splitting

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