Change of time to winter time 2025. How to settle an additional hour of work on the night from October 25 to 26?
publication
2025-10-24 06:00
On the night of October 25-26, 2025, we will turn back the clocks from 3:00 to 2:00. For most people it's an extra hour of sleep, but for those working during this time it's an extra hour of work. How to account for the change to winter time and whether an allowance or overtime is due for it? We explain step by step.
On the night from Saturday, October 25 to Sunday, October 26, 2025, we will pass from summer to winter time, turning back the clocks from 3:00 to 2:00. Although for most people this means an hour of extra sleep, for night workers, the time change means having to work an additional hour. This, in turn, raises questions about pay, overtime and night benefits.
An extra hour of work
The situation where an additional working hour is created applies only to employees working at night, because that is when the clocks are turned back. In accordance with the principle arising from the Labor Code, the employee is entitled to remuneration for each hour actually worked. This means that for the night of the time change, you must also be paid for the additional hour of work.
Is overtime incurred during the time change?
It depends on the working time schedule for a given employee. If, as a result of turning back the clock, an employee works one hour longer and thus exceeds the daily working time norm (e.g. 8, 12, 16 or 24 hours), this additional hour constitutes overtime. In such a situation, the employee is entitled to:
- remuneration per hour worked, and
- allowance for overtime or time off in lieu.
However, if the average weekly working time standard is exceeded, the employer must pay 100%. salary supplement (unless he grants time off).
Allowance for working at night due to time change
In addition to remuneration for the hour actually worked, the employee is also entitled to: allowance for night work. According to the regulations, night time covers 8 hours, usually between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Specific hours are specified in the work regulations or collective agreement applicable in the company.
Work regulations, specifying the rights and obligations of the employer and employees related to order in the workplace, should specify in particular the night time,” we read in the Labor Code.
This means that even if an employee actually spends 9 hours at work due to the time change, he or she is entitled to the night allowance only for the 8 hours designated as night time.
Is this the last time change in Poland?
An analysis by scientists from Stanford Medicine (USA) shows that the obligation to change the time twice a year will be abolished and permanent winter time will be introduced could bring tangible benefits to public health among others reduce the risk of strokes and reduce the incidence of obesity.
On Thursday, the European Commission announced a new proposal to abolish seasonal time changes. So far, member states have not been able to reach an agreement on whether to keep summer or winter time permanently. Public consultations conducted in 2018 by the European Commission showed that a total of 84 percent Europeans want to abolish time change.
