Poland: Authorities clamp down on abuse of sickness benefits

In the first six months of 2010, more than 10% of employees claiming sickness benefits who were monitored by the Polish social security authorities as part of a clampdown on abuse were found to be fit to work.

Employees who are absent from work owing to sickness, and have made at least 30 days of contributions to the public sickness insurance fund, are entitled to receive sick pay from their employer for the first 33 days of absence in a calendar year (14 days in the case of workers aged 50 or over).