Coming to work as a couple looks different from coming alone. Instead of one set of documents there are two, instead of a bed in a shared room you need a room for two, and the schedule only makes sense if both of you work the same shift.
Below we explain how work for couples in Poland is organised, how shared accommodation works and what to ask before you arrive.
Can a couple work in the same place
In most cases yes, provided the site has openings for two people. This usually applies to warehouses, sorting centres, packing halls and production plants, where recruitment runs in groups.
Working at the same site does not automatically mean the same shift or the same position. Ask about working the same shift during recruitment, before you travel.
How shared accommodation works
Accommodation for a couple normally means a twin room in a flat or in a collective accommodation building, with a shared kitchen and bathroom. The standard, the cost and the distance from the plant are described separately in each offer, because they differ between locations.
Keep in mind that rooms for couples are a limited resource. During the autumn season they are taken faster than ordinary beds, so couples should apply well in advance.
What to ask before you arrive
- whether the offer includes a separate room for a couple, not two beds in different rooms,
- how much the accommodation costs and whether the cost is counted per person,
- whether both of you can work the same shift,
- how far the accommodation is from the plant and who arranges transport,
- whether the positions are the same or different,
- what happens to the accommodation if one of you finishes work earlier.
Paperwork is handled separately
Working as a couple does not change the rules of employment. Each person signs their own contract, takes their own medical examination and safety training, has their own registration with ZUS and their own salary.
The same applies to foreign nationals. The basis of residence and the basis of work are checked individually, and the employer submits the notification of entrusting work separately for each person. Sharing a room does not merge these matters into one case.
Positions couples usually take
- order picking and packing,
- parcel sorting,
- production and line work,
- quality control,
- support work in the warehouse.
On some sites, employers split tasks according to physical requirements. One person may work in packing and the other in picking, while both stay in the same hall during the same hours.
Budgeting as a couple
A couple shares the cost of accommodation and transport, so the monthly balance looks different than for someone travelling alone. Before counting the savings, check whether the accommodation cost in the offer is given per person or per room, and whether utilities are included.
The second question is the schedule. If one of you works nights and the other days, shared accommodation loses much of its point. Ask about shifts before you ask about the rate.
Looking for work together?
Check the current HR WORK offers and let us know that you are applying as a couple. We will check which places with accommodation for couples are available.
