Most pay and housing problems start with a contract signed without reading. Go through the checklist with the contract in hand: what must be written — and what should stop you.
A self-check guide, not legal advice. Ticks are stored only in your browser. If the contract has clauses you don't understand — ask for a translation and don't sign until you do.
Mandatory items0 of 9
Tick what you found in the contract. ·
What must be written
Without these the contract is incomplete or works against you
9 items
Who the employer is: full name, address, NIP/KRSNot “Mr Marek's company” but a legal entity. That's who you'll be chasing if they don't pay.
Your details and PESEL written without errorsOne wrong digit and ZUS contributions won't be matched to you. Check in the PESEL tool.
Contract type stated explicitlyUmowa o pracę, zlecenia or o dzieło — leave, sick pay and work record depend on it.
Position and place of workA specific job title and address (or region) — not “as directed by the employer”.
Rate: amount, gross/net, per hour or monthThe number must match what was promised. If the listing said “net” and the contract says gross — that's different money.
Employment fraction (etat) and scheduleFull-time or 3/4, shifts or not — your hours norm and overtime depend on it.
Start date and contract termTrial period — up to 3 months; then a fixed-term or open-ended contract.
Housing: whether provided and what it costsIf “free” — it must be written. If deducted from pay — the amount and what for.
Terms for returning documents and depositsIf anything is “withheld” (workwear, travel, deposit) — the return terms must be in writing.
Red flags
Even one — stop and ask
6 items
Contract offered for signing AFTER work startsA written contract must exist before the first working day. “Work a week, we'll sort it later” is a violation.
Umowa o dzieło for ordinary manual workIn a warehouse, factory or construction site such a contract is illegal and leaves you uninsured.
Blank fields or “amount to be agreed”Anything not written doesn't exist for a court. A blank rate field is a rate of zero.
Penalties for leaving or “working off” travel costsDeducting penalties from pay without a court ruling is prohibited; “working off the ticket” is a sign of coercion.
Asked to sign a blank form or a document in a language you don't understandYou have the right to a translation of the terms in a language you understand. Don't sign what you haven't read.
They take your passport “for paperwork”No one may hold your documents. A copy — yes; the original — never.
Start with the contract in hand
Tick what the contract contains and any red flags — the verdict appears here.
What an employment contract must contain
The Labour Code (art. 29) requires an employment contract to state: the parties, contract type, date of conclusion, type and place of work, pay with all components, employment fraction and start date. Since 2023 the employer must also inform you in writing about working-time norms, breaks, overtime rules, leave and the notice period. If any of this is missing — ask for it to be added.
Umowa zlecenia: what to look at
The Labour Code doesn't apply here, so anything not in the text doesn't exist for you: hourly rate (not below the minimum), hours tracking, how and when you're paid, whether sickness insurance is included, termination terms. Work out the take-home amount in the gross↔net calculator — it covers both contract types.
FAQ
The contract is only in Polish — is that normal?
The employer must give a foreign worker a translation of the terms in a language they understand before concluding the contract. Asking for a translation is your right, not a whim.
Can anything be changed after signing?
Yes, by a written annex with both parties' consent. Verbal promises like “we'll raise the rate later” are worth nothing without an annex.
I'm asked to sign a 3-month trial contract — is that bad?
No, a trial contract of up to 3 months is legal practice. It's bad if afterwards they offer another trial for the same position or switch to an umowa o dzieło.
Unsure about the contract? We'll find a job where everything is clear
Leave your contact — a recruiter will explain the terms in plain words and offer jobs with a proper contract and housing. €0 from candidates.
