wypowiedzeniu

Wypowiedzenie is a unilateral declaration of intent to terminate a legal relationship, most commonly used in the context of employment. In Poland, wypowiedzenie umowy o pracę (termination of an employment contract) is the standard form, but the term can also apply to other contracts governed by civil law. The termination takes effect on a date specified in the notice or at the end of a statutory notice period.

For a contract of employment, the notification must usually be in writing and delivered to the other party. The notice period starts when the notice is received and runs until its end; during this time the employer remains obliged to pay wages and the employee retains employment rights.

The length of the notice period depends on the length of employment and the grounds for termination. For an indefinite-term contract, common periods are: two weeks for up to six months of service; one month for six months to less than three years; and three months for three years or longer. In certain situations, such as disciplinary termination for cause, the contract may end immediately without a notice period.

Special cases include termination without notice (zwolnienie dyscyplinarne) when there is a serious violation of duties, and terminations with notice due to organizational changes or redundancy, which follow the standard notice periods. In some circumstances, employees may be eligible for severance pay under collective agreements or company policy, and unemployment benefits may be available after a termination.

Disputes regarding the validity or terms of wypowiedzenie can be brought to labor courts. The process aims to ensure clarity about when the employment relationship ends and what rights and obligations remain during the notice period.