A vast majority of Polish professionals and managers would support moving to a four-day workweek—provided it doesn’t reduce their salary. According to the latest report from Hays Poland, titled “Four-Day Workweek 2025”, 90% of respondents would prefer a shorter workweek if their income remained unchanged.
The survey reveals that more than half (55%) of the specialists and managers polled believe Poland is ready to embrace a shift toward reduced working hours. Only 25% think otherwise.
Although just 10% of professionals have actually experienced a four-day workweek, 79% of them evaluated the model positively. The main benefits cited include more free time (83%) and improved overall life satisfaction (79%). The biggest concerns? Reduced pay (51%) and the risk of extended overtime (41%).
A Divisive But Crucial Debate
The idea of a four-day workweek has long sparked debate about the future of labor markets. It elicits both enthusiastic support and fierce opposition—and understandably so. For employees, employers, and the Polish economy as a whole, it would represent a fundamental shift.
In a survey conducted by Hays Poland in May 2025, 28% of respondents said Poland is “definitely” ready to shorten the workweek, and another 27% answered “probably yes.”
Is Poland ready for a reduced working week?
- Definitely yes – 28%
- Probably yes – 27%
- Hard to say – 20%
- Probably not – 14%
- Definitely not – 11%
“The idea of a shorter workweek is timely and necessary. Demographic decline, automation, and AI development make this the right moment to test forward-looking solutions. Still, as a society, we aren’t ready for a four-day week yet. Implementing such a change requires clear frameworks, adequate technological resources, and a maturity among both employees and employers,” says Łukasz Grzeszczyk, Executive Director CEE – Talent Location Strategy at Hays.
Enthusiastic but Cautious
The sentiment from the survey reflects this tension. While supporters outnumber skeptics, the latter still make up a significant 25% of respondents. Proponents often point to positive experiences abroad, digital transformation, and Poland’s economic strength. Opponents cite low productivity, competitiveness risks, and economic fragility.
“There’s a growing belief that Poland is ready to take this step. In part, that’s justified—we work more efficiently and are aware of the importance of mental well-being. But when we ran this survey four years ago, the concept seemed more realistic than today. Back in 2021, the labor market outlook was far more optimistic. Now, uncertainty leads both companies and workers to seek stability, making revolutionary changes more daunting,” explains Aleksandra Tyszkiewicz, Executive Director CEE – Enterprise Solutions at Hays.
Declining Enthusiasm Compared to 2021
Compared to the 2021 edition of the study, fewer professionals are open to adopting a four-day week. Still, the model of four 8-hour days with full pay remains most popular—favored by 90% of respondents (down 6 percentage points from 2021).
Interest wanes for other models. A 10-hour, 4-day workweek with full pay appeals to just 46% of professionals (also down 6 percentage points). The least popular scenario is working 4 days a week for 8 hours at 80% of previous pay—only 16% found this acceptable.
Would you want to work a four-day week?
| Model | Strong Yes | Yes | Rather Yes | Not Sure | Rather No | No | Strong No |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 days, 8h/day, 100% pay | 77% | 8% | 5% | 2% | 2% | 1% | 5% |
| 4 days, 10h/day, 100% pay | 15% | 12% | 19% | 9% | 15% | 8% | 22% |
| 4 days, 8h/day, 80% pay | 2% | 3% | 11% | 7% | 18% | 17% | 42% |
Source: Hays Poland “Four-Day Workweek 2025”
Workers Prefer Fewer Workdays Over Shorter Days or Extra Vacation
The upcoming pilot program, announced by the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy, will test three models: reducing the number of workdays, shortening daily hours, and offering more vacation time. When asked which option they found most attractive, respondents overwhelmingly chose fewer workdays.
Which pilot solution is most attractive to you?
- Reducing the number of workdays – 68%
- Shortening the workday – 17%
- Additional vacation days – 15%
“Testing different working time models in companies with various business profiles will help determine if Poland is truly ready for this transition. But the truth likely lies somewhere in between. We may be on the right path, but implementing a four-day week will require a long-term, coordinated effort,” say Hays experts.
“There are still many unanswered questions: Who should decide on implementation? Will pay be affected? Should the extra day off rotate? A pilot program can identify the pressure points and help design a feasible roadmap. Realistically, Poland may only be ready for a four-day week in a decade or more, depending on domestic and global economic conditions,” concludes Tyszkiewicz.
About the Report
The “Four-Day Workweek 2025” report is based on a labor market survey conducted by Hays Poland using the CAWI method in May 2025. More than 1,800 specialists and managers participated. The report explores their opinions on the four-day workweek and assesses readiness to work under three different models.
Source: CEO.com.pl – Hays Poland Report
