In a move welcomed by HR and payroll departments, the Sejm on 25 February passed amendments permitting employees to submit sick-care benefit applications entirely online, without the need for handwritten signatures or original paper documents. Electronic copies will suffice, and the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) will request originals only if authenticity is in doubt.(leglobal.law)
Once enacted—three months after publication—the reform will cut processing times for expatriate families who often struggle with in-person appointments and postal delays. Employers that are the ‘benefit payer’ can integrate the new workflow into existing HRIS platforms, reducing manual data entry and storage costs.
![Polish bill clears lower house to allow fully digital sick-care benefit claims]()
Likewise, when employees or their dependants need to secure or renew Polish visas, VisaHQ’s online platform can take the administrative load off HR teams by offering end-to-end digital filing, real-time status tracking and automated renewal alerts; more information is available at https://www.visahq.com/poland/
The change also dovetails with Poland’s broader digital-by-default strategy, which already mandates electronic sick notes and will soon expand to residence-permit filings. For globally mobile staff on local contracts, a fully online system means fewer disruptions when dependants fall ill and the primary earner is traveling abroad.
Companies should begin updating employee handbooks and power-of-attorney templates; ZUS will accept electronic signatures but may reject scanned copies that do not use a recognised trust service.
Once enacted—three months after publication—the reform will cut processing times for expatriate families who often struggle with in-person appointments and postal delays. Employers that are the ‘benefit payer’ can integrate the new workflow into existing HRIS platforms, reducing manual data entry and storage costs.
Likewise, when employees or their dependants need to secure or renew Polish visas, VisaHQ’s online platform can take the administrative load off HR teams by offering end-to-end digital filing, real-time status tracking and automated renewal alerts; more information is available at https://www.visahq.com/poland/
The change also dovetails with Poland’s broader digital-by-default strategy, which already mandates electronic sick notes and will soon expand to residence-permit filings. For globally mobile staff on local contracts, a fully online system means fewer disruptions when dependants fall ill and the primary earner is traveling abroad.
Companies should begin updating employee handbooks and power-of-attorney templates; ZUS will accept electronic signatures but may reject scanned copies that do not use a recognised trust service.
