Must my employer give me a work certificate?
Yes: issuing a work certificate is the employer's duty. After termination or expiry of the employment relationship, the employer must promptly issue a work certificate — as a rule on the last day of employment, and where that's impossible, send it within 7 days. Issuing the certificate can't be made conditional on settling with the employee (e.g. returning equipment). The document contains, among others, the period and type of work done, the mode of contract termination, the leave used, and information needed to establish entitlements (e.g. to benefit). If the certificate has errors, you can within 14 days ask the employer for a correction, and on refusal — take the case to the labour court.
📋 The rules
- Duty to issue the certificate after employment ends
- Deadline: as a rule on the last day (or within 7 days)
- Issue doesn't depend on settling with the employee
- Contains the period, type of work, mode of termination, leave
- Correction: request within 14 days, then the labour court
🔓 Exceptions
- Continued employment with the same employer: certificate on request
- Errors in the certificate: right to seek a correction within 14 days
- The certificate is posted or sent electronically when it can't be handed over
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Not issuing the work certificate on time or issuing a faulty document breaches labour law — the worker can demand a correction, and if it caused loss (e.g. they couldn't take new work or get benefit), they're entitled to compensation. The matter can be reported to the National Labour Inspectorate (a fine for the employer) or taken to the labour court. To get and check the certificate smoothly: after work ends, collect the document on time, carefully verify the data (periods, leave, mode of termination), and on errors file a correction request within 14 days; on refusal take the case to court. Keep the certificate — you'll need it with the next employer, at ZUS and the labour office.
📎 Official sources
- ISAP · Labour Code (work certificate) →
- National Labour Inspectorate · Work certificate →
- Gov.pl · End of employment →
❓ Frequently asked
When must the employer issue a work certificate?
As a rule on the day employment ends. If issuing it that day isn't possible, the employer should send it to the worker (or an authorised person) within 7 days. Issuing the certificate can't be made conditional on the worker first settling with the employer.
What does a work certificate contain?
Among others, the period of employment, the type of work and positions held, the mode and basis of the contract's termination or expiry, the amount of annual leave used, and information needed to establish employment and social-insurance entitlements, e.g. to benefit.
What do I do if the certificate has errors?
Within 14 days of receiving the certificate you can ask the employer to correct it. If the employer refuses, within a further deadline you can take the case to the labour court. It's worth carefully checking the data in the certificate right after receiving it.
Can the employer withhold the certificate until I return equipment?
No. Issuing the work certificate can't be made conditional on the worker settling with the employer, such as returning equipment or clearing advances. The employer handles those separately. The certificate must be issued on time regardless of the state of mutual settlements.
What's the penalty for not issuing a work certificate?
It's a labour-law breach. The worker can demand the certificate be issued or corrected, and where they suffered loss (e.g. couldn't take new work), they're entitled to compensation. The matter can be reported to the National Labour Inspectorate or taken to the labour court.
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