The end of the 40-hour work week? Most Poles do not want changes

61.5 percent respondents are against shortening the statutory working week; 30.9% declare support for the idea. respondents, and the percentage of undecided people is 7.6%. – according to the United Surveys by IBRiS survey commissioned by Wirtualna Polska.

On January 1, the test phase of the shortened working time pilot began; will last until the end of 2026. Companies will test, for example, a four-day working week, shorter hours or longer holidays. According to information from the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Policy, 90 companies and institutions from the private and public sectors, which employ a total of over 5,000, will take part in the pilot. employees. According to the ministry, the average funding for one entity will amount to PLN 0.5 million.

Respondents in the United Surveys by IBRiS survey commissioned by Wirtualna Polska were asked what their attitude was to the idea of ​​shortening the statutory working week. As noted, The study shows that Poles do not want a revolution in the labor code. 61.5% were against shortening the statutory working week. respondentsof which 31.2 percent definitely does not support it, and 30.3 percent – I don't think so.

According to the study, supporters of shorter work hours are in a clear minority. Total support for this idea was declared by 30.9 percent. respondents, of which 10.8 percent strongly, and 20.1 percent – probably yes. The percentage of undecided people is 7.6%.

Analysis of the results broken down by political preferences shows that this idea does not have strong support in any of the main camps, although some differences in approach are visible.

Voters of the ruling coalition (KO, Trzecia Droga, Left) are – as indicated – the group most open to changes, but even here the opponents have an advantage. 43% are in favor of shortening the working week. voters of power, while 49 percent is against. 8 percent respondents answered “I don't know/it's hard to say”.

As we read, the resistance is the toughest among opposition voters (PiS, Konfederacja). 69 percent opposition voters reject the idea of ​​shortening working hours, 23% support it. people from this group. 8 percent respondents from this group were undecided.

In the group of people who did not vote for either of the two main blocs, 66 percent were against the changes. of them, and 26 percent are in favor. 8 percent answered “I don't know/it's hard to say”.

The survey was conducted by the United Surveys by IBRiS institute on behalf of Wirtualna Polska. The study was carried out on December 19–21, 2025, using the mixed CATI method (telephone interviews) and CAWI (online surveys) on a sample of N=1,000 people.

All employers who met the following conditions could apply to participate in the shortened working time pilot: they had been running a business for at least 12 months, employing most of their employees under an employment contract, covering at least half of their team with the pilot and maintaining employment at a level of at least 90%. initial state. The salaries of pilot participants must remain unchanged.

PLN 50 million was allocated to finance the pilot for the years 2025-2027, of which PLN 10 million in 2025 alone. Financing comes from the Labor Fund. The maximum value of support for one project could not exceed PLN 1 million, and the cost per employee could not exceed PLN 20,000. zloty.

The last, summary stage of the pilot will start in 2027 and last until May 15 this year. By this date, the project implementer is obliged to submit the final report and quarterly surveys to the employer and employees to the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy. Conclusions summarizing the pilot will then be developed. (PAP)

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