Minister announces changes to L4. Sick leave paid up to 100%?

In a recent interview for Dziennik Gazeta Prawna, the Minister of Family, Labor and Social Policy, Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk, revealed that the government is considering paying sickness benefits not as currently 80 percent, but 90 or 100 percent of the salary. However, she noted that various risks must be taken into account, such as attempts by employers to push their employees onto false L4s.

Radical changes in L4. “Employees come to work sick”

The head of the Ministry of Labour was asked about the possibility of transferring sickness funding to ZUS from the first day of illness. – Work on this project is underway in the ministry. It is clear to us that neither the employer nor the employee should be punished for illness. Today, both are punished. The employee is punished by receiving lower wages, the employer by having to find a replacement for the absent employee and cover the costs of sick pay, i.e. 80% of the salary. What is the effect of this? Well, it is that employees come to work sick because they do not want to lose part of their wages. So they endanger their own health and the health of their colleagues – said Dziemianowicz-Bąk.

– In turn, employers look askance at sickly employees who are not in full strength and health. Meanwhile, in the era of an aging society, we must change our labor market to be friendly to the elderly, the disabled, or people who are not always in good health – she added.

The minister stressed that the government is considering various legal options. – We take into account the level of contribution burden. Today, the contribution to sickness benefit is covered in 100% by the employee. It would be difficult for employees to accept if the state decided to transfer the burden of financing sickness benefit to ZUS, and they themselves would not feel any benefits. That is why we are considering the proposal to pay sickness benefit in 90 or 100% of the salary – said Dziemianowicz-Bąk.

The head of the Ministry of Labour emphasized that all considered solutions will be widely consulted. – All changes introduced will be processed in such a way that both employers and employees are aware of the planned changes and can prepare for them accordingly – summarized the minister.