Employers in Poland have a duty to uphold employee
dignity and maintain an ethical work environment. Tolerating
discriminatory behaviour at work violates those obligations. Not
only could this be reputationally damaging, but it could also
result in criminal liability. We explore the key issues
below.
According to a 2019 survey conducted by CBOS, 12% of people
experienced hate speech at work. This is defined as a statement
that offends others because of characteristics such as race,
colour, religion (or lack thereof), nationality, ethnicity, sexual
orientation, gender, age or disability. Studies from 2024-2025
already indicate that approximately 34% of adult Poles have
encountered this at work. It is therefore apparent that the problem
is a growing one. Certain hate speech is a crime in Poland and
employers have an obligation to counteract it. Failing to do so can
be costly.
