Tina Sobocińska sees several strengths of the project. First of all – an unprecedented scale. — We have finally moved from surveys to the concrete experience of companies and institutions. The qualification of 90 companies and institutions is a measurable scale of this experiment and, according to the ministry, it is the largest such experiment, not only in Europe, but in the world – he emphasizes.
The expert also highly appreciates its flexibility, which gives employers the choice between a four-day week and a six-hour working day, which allows the model to be adapted to the specific nature of the organization. He also appreciates the funding — many companies wouldn't have the resources to conduct the experiment without the additional funding. Another advantage is the timely recruitment, carried out despite the enormous interest of nearly 2,000 employers, and the fact that the ministry is starting to communicate more openly about the project.
Read also: Experiments with a four-day working week. “We don't have long hours”
Main problem: representativeness of the pilot group
What raises the greatest concern is the selection of participants. However, the mere presence of public institutions in the pilot is not a problem, according to the expert. — On the contrary, offices are faced with a fight for talents, uncompetitive salaries and flat structures with limited opportunities for promotion. They therefore have the opportunity to make significant changes to their employer's offer and introduce flexible work models, ensuring continuity of customer service. It makes sense to check how short-time working works in the public sector, he explains.
However, the problem is the proportions. Tina Sobocińska points out that with such huge interest, a more diverse group could have been selected. – There is no balanced representation that we would need in Poland – he says. In her opinion the pilot should include private and public companies, small, medium and large, from various sectors – both those far from automation and those that are as digitized as possible. — Such a large investment of public funds must bring conclusions for the entire market economy, he adds.
In a comment for Business Insider, the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Policy explains that the project was divided into 12 “baskets” (according to sector and size) and assures that “such a cross-section will allow us to check how different models of shortening working time work in practice.” The resort also adds that only 5% received funding. requesting public entities and 7 percent production companies.
A methodology that needs refinement
Further reservations concern the research methodology. The pilot is divided into three stages: signing the contract, testing (from January to December 2026) and a summary scheduled for mid-May 2027. Companies are obliged to submit quarterly employee and employer surveys and a final report to the ministry.
— 12 months is definitely too short – says Tina Sobocińska. The expert cites the examples of Great Britain and Portugal, where tests have been going on for the third year, and emphasizes that more than one calendar cycle is needed. — It's not just about reducing hours, it's about transforming the way of working and organizational culture, often combined with… process optimization and automation, he explains.
It also evaluates research methods equally strictly. In her opinion, the methodology based mainly on surveys is superficial and will not capture the biggest challenges. The project lacks in-depth research, focus groups and analysis of test and control groups.
Lack of support and central research entity
The expert also draws attention to: lack of substantive support for participants. — The Ministry did not provide information on additional materials with good practices, sets of questions and answers or training for employers and leaders. We have companies in Poland working in a shortened model, we have experience from other countries. There are materials that could be provided to employers so that they do not waste time on coming up with answers to basic questions: what about leaves, overtime, how to select test groups, how to prepare leaders, what additional competences are needed during such a profound transformation of work, are individual exceptions possible for employees – points out Tina Sobocińska.
Read also: The reduction of working time in Poland is getting closer. Entrepreneurs surprise with their opinions
Another weakness, according to the expert, is the dispersion of methodological responsibility. Companies can use the funds received, among others, for consulting, but there is no single research institution that could objectively spearhead the experiment — as is the case in Great Britain, where researchers from the University of Cambridge or Portugal and Henley Business School are involved.
— Such a think tank could deepen all stages, examining their effectiveness and advising companies in various phases of the experiment – says Tina Sobocińska. He cites the example from Portugal, where the company participating in the tests was not prepared for the fact that media attention would paralyze its operations for a few days. — Such surprises may appear and it would be good to have an institution with appropriate competences that will help avoid companies withdrawing from the tests – he adds.
Threat of politicization
One of the biggest problems is strong connection of the project with a specific political party. — It's good that these tests have their own face, but promoting a specific batch in materials about this experiment may be risky, the expert warns.
— This is a large-scale and important project, so it should have a neutral character and be sustainable regardless of who rules our country. This is the example of Portugal – the project was carried out in such a way that despite changes in the government, the tests continued without interruption. In my opinion, political neutrality is one of the biggest challenges in Poland. It is important both for participating employers and for subsequent stages of the entire experiment, he emphasizes.
Risk of results manipulation
Tina Sobocińska also warns against the temptation of performance only positive results. Without an independent research institution companies may want to demonstrate positive results to justify the funding they receivewhile the reality may be completely different.
— We should all care about these 90 institutions and companies actually thoroughly undergoing this experiment, and that as many substantive, real results as possible are publicly available – sums up the expert. The idea is that the results should not only be a laurel of the experiment, but that they reflect the real situation. It is also important to track how many companies complete the tests and for what reasons some of them may abandon them.
A missed opportunity for international exchange of experiences
The Polish pilot could benefit from the international exchange of knowledge and experience of countries that are already conducting similar tests. When in January 2025, Tina Sobocińska organized an international conference on the four-day working week with the participation of experts from Great Britain and Portugal, they declared their readiness to cooperate and share their experiences – both successes and failures.
— I imagine a round table with international experts. The exchange of experiences, analysis of reports and detailed documentation, which these countries maintain very well, would give the project a different dimension – says the expert.
Such cooperation could give the Polish project an international character, increase its credibility and help avoid mistakes that other countries have already made. – This would be a spectacular strengthening of the entire project – he adds.
Read also: Is the short working time pilot a failure? “The Ministry blew its chance”
Does the project have a chance to defend itself?
Despite reservations, according to Tina Sobocińska the experiment can still be saved. – However, this requires quick decisions: depoliticizing the project, including an independent research institution and transparent communication with participants and the public – he emphasizes.
The stakes are high, both for the participating companies and for the future of the discussion on short working time in Poland. The expert warns: – If the tests are poorly conducted, the topic may be sidelined in public debate for a long time. This is a pity, because it is not only a question about the balance between life and work – more important today than ever – but also an opportunity for a new era of transformation of the Polish economy.
