The obligation of periodic inspections for employees will return. They will have a certain amount of time to complete them.

The World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared the end of the COVID-19 pandemic a few days ago. Also, the state of the epidemic threat will soon be removed in our country. This should happen on July 1, 2023, so there are a lot of changes ahead. They concern people with disabilities - their disability certificates expire. Tax incentives for blood donors will also be changed. In addition, mandatory periodic inspections at work will return.

Mandatory periodic check-ups at work after the pandemic

At the beginning of May, a draft decree of the Minister of Health on the abolition of the state of epidemic danger on the territory of the Republic of Poland was published on the website of the Government Center for Legislation. This means that each employer will again have to fulfill his obligation to send the employee for preventive examinations.
Until now, due to the coronavirus epidemic, which was associated with various restrictions and limited access to doctors, it has been suspended. From March 2020, employers were not supposed to issue such referrals, but from July 1, 2023 they will be obliged to again. When pre-pandemic rules return - every employee who has not passed periodic inspections, it will be 180 days. This applies to those companies that have taken advantage of the introduced right not to order such tests. Now we need to make up for this gap.

Why are periodic professional examinations carried out?

It is the employer’s responsibility to send the employee for medical examinations (so-called preventive examinations) both before starting work and during the employment relationship. He may not allow a new employee to perform duties in a particular position without a valid medical certificate confirming that there are no contraindications to this. However, preliminary medical examinations are not required in case of re-employment of this person to work in a certain position, if the next employment contract is concluded within 30 days from the date of termination or expiration of the previous one.
In turn, the tests necessary during the employment relationship are:

• Control tests - the employer is obliged to send an employee to her in case of his incapacity for work, which lasts more than 30 days and is caused by illness. Their purpose is to check whether the state of his health allows him to continue to perform his duties in this position.
• Periodic Inspections - are carried out to determine the ability of an employee to work in this position (performed every 2-4 years, depending on the position).

Is it possible not to conduct periodic inspections for work?

Every employee such examinations are required.. The employer issues a referral to them and he covers all the costs associated with them. The employee must perform such tests during your business hours - after that he is released from all duties.
The lack of valid periodic inspections makes it impossible to perform work. Such an employee should not be allowed. Otherwise, the employer may be fined from PLN 1,000 to PLN 30,000 due to violation of labor protection and safety regulations. On the other hand, an employee who does not pass the test loses the right to remuneration.