Small businesses have started checking sick leave. Interest has risen by 42 per cent.
From 13 April 2026, employers of up to 20 staff can themselves check proper use of sick leave, without having to wait for the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) to act. According to data from Conperio, between 13 April and 31 July, interest amongst small and medium-sized business es in checking sick leave rose by 42 per cent in comparison to the first quarter of the year.
In 2026, as many as 36 per cent of checking revealed irregularities; most commonly: recreational trips, paid work, and gardening and renovation work. For a company that has just a few employees a single prolonged absence can mean a delay in fulfilling an order or the need to reorganise an entire group.
Checking can be arranged independently or through specialists which can complete it within a matter of hours of a request being made. Despite this, many small business owners are still unaware of this new right.