Poles ready to work for less money? A surprising study
Only 12 percent Polish employees would agree to work for less money in exchange for lighter work – according to the “Polish Labor Market Barometer” by Personnel Service. Such readiness was most often declared by those working in trade and e-commerce.
The latest edition of Personnel Service’s “Polish Labor Market Barometer” shows that most Poles accept the possibility of working for lower wages, but impose clear conditions. As much as 46 percent respondents declared that they would agree to a salary reduction, unless it was a significant one. One third of respondents (32%) cannot imagine such a scenario at all, and one in ten (10%) had no opinion on this issue.
The study shows that a relatively small group (12%) would agree to work for less money in exchange for easier work or better working conditions.
Lower pay for lighter work. There is a lot of interest in these industries
Personnel Service points out that willingness to work for lower pay varies depending on the industry. The tendency to earn less in exchange for lighter duties or better conditions was most often expressed by those working in trade and e-commerce (17%), as well as those employed in transport and logistics (16%) and construction (14%).
A significant number of employees do not rule out this possibility, but make the decision dependent on the amount of the difference in salary. This applies to almost half (48%) of those employed in trade and e-commerce and 45%. working in the production and industry sector.
– This is a signal that although few Poles today openly declare their willingness to work for less money, under appropriate conditions the number of such people could be significantly greater. If there are industries in which employees are allowed a lower salary, this should encourage companies to invest in workplace ergonomics, flexible schedules and a better work-life balance. However, if there are few such declarations, it means a low level of the so-called trade-off, i.e. the willingness to compromise between pay and work comfort, which in practice translates into further wage pressure – comments Krzysztof Inglot, labor market expert and founder of Personnel Service.
– Trying to compensate for harder work with amenities alone, without increasing rates, will not work. That is why we recommend companies to adjust salaries, introduce efficiency bonuses or actually relieve workload through automation, micro-breaks or activity rotation. – he adds.
Research methodology: Research conducted on the Ariadna panel on a nationwide sample of N = 1,090 people. Amounts selected according to representation in the population of Poles aged 18 and over, gender, age and size of place of residence. Carried out between October 30 and November 3, 2025. Method: CAWI.
