Author: kancelaria

The Law on the Protection of Whistleblowers will enter into force three months after its publication in the Official Gazette, i.e. on 25 September 2024, except for the provisions on external reporting, which will not take effect until 25 December 2024. What is worth knowing about this law before it enters into force?

 

Who is a whistleblower?
Under the Whistleblower Protection Act, a whistleblower is an individual who reports or publicly discloses information about a violation of the law obtained in a work-related context. A whistleblower can be: an employee, a temporary employee, a person providing work on the basis of a contract other than an employment contract, an entrepreneur, a proxy, a shareholder or a partner, a member of a body of a legal person or an organisational unit without legal personality, a volunteer, an intern, an apprentice, a soldier and a member of other uniformed services such as the Police or the Internal Security Agency.

 

What irregularities can a whistleblower report?
As set out in the Whistleblower Protection Act, a whistleblower may report irregularities consisting of a violation of the law through an unlawful act or omission or aimed at circumventing the law, relating to areas such as: corruption, public procurement, financial services, products and markets, anti-money laundering and terrorist financing, product safety and compliance, transport safety, environmental protection, radiological and nuclear safety, food and feed safety, animal health and welfare, public health, consumer protection, privacy and personal data protection, security of information and communication networks and systems, financial interests of the State Treasury of the Republic of Poland, of a local self-government unit and of the European Union, the internal market of the European Union, including public law principles of competition and state aid and taxation of legal persons, and, in addition, constitutional freedoms and rights of a human being and a citizen – occurring in relations of an individual with public authorities and not related to other areas. In addition, this catalogue may be extended to include violations relating to internal company regulations or ethical standards that have been established by the entity in question. This may include, for example, regulations relating to labour law issues, which, to a certain extent, reflect regulations contained, inter alia, in the Labour Code. However, this is optional and, therefore, the introduction of the possibility of reporting in this respect is optional and depends solely on the will of the entrepreneur.

 

Why was labour law excluded from the Act?
The amendments made during the legislative process to the Act by the Senate and adopted by the Sejm arouse a lot of emotion, because before the Senate presented its position, the catalogue of areas in which one could report irregularities and count on being protected under the above-mentioned Act included 18 items. The deleted item that is not included in the whistleblower protection law passed on 14 June 2024 by the Sejm is ‘labour law’. The votes on this procedure are divided. Some parliamentarians considered the inclusion of labour law as pointless, as the Labour Inspectorate is responsible for monitoring compliance with labour law. In addition, these people emphasised that the Law on the Protection of Whistleblowers, in order to fulfil its task, i.e. to implement Directive (EU) 2019/1927, does not need to include violations concerning labour law. On the other hand, in the opinion of the opponents of the amendment made, the Law on the Protection of Whistleblowers could, in its previous wording, not only help employees to exercise the rights to which they are entitled without fear of losing their jobs or other retaliation from employers, but also help entrepreneurs who, thanks to the strengthened protection of whistleblowers, would get rid of competition in the market that acts contrary to the letter of the law.

 

Who is affected by the implemented regulations?
The Law on the Protection of Whistleblowers implies the need to create whistleblowing channels that would allow the fulfilment of the obligations under the Law. This obligation applies to legal entities for which, as at 1 January or 1 July of a given year, at least 50 persons are gainfully employed. The number of such persons includes full-time employees or persons performing work for remuneration on a basis other than employment, if the enterprises do not employ other persons for such work, regardless of the basis of employment. However, the threshold of 50 persons does not apply to legal entities carrying out activities in the fields of financial services, products and markets and anti-money laundering and terrorist financing, transport safety and environmental protection covered by the European Union acts listed in Parts I.B and II of the Annex to Directive 2019/1937. Failure to establish notification channels by entities meeting the aforementioned criteria entails the risk of being fined.

Last weekend, the Legal Netlink Alliance Europe Board met in Bratislava.
Board members, including our partner Tomasz Janaszczyk, discussed the future of the association, which for thirty years, has enabled its members to extend the reach of their services to meet the needs of their clients across the globe.

The main objective of the LNA Board meetings is to develop new projects, strategies, and solutions in order to strengthen the LNA’s market position, ensure its development, thereby guaranteeing the highest standard of services to our clients.

The law firms belonging to the network are highly skilled thanks to the exchange of knowledge and experience, thus we are an indispensable support for our clients on a global scale.

This year’s edition of the prestigious ranking “The Legal 500 Europe, Middle East & Africa 2024” published on March 27th, recommended the JLSW Law Firm as a specialist in construction law for the seventh time.

Great recognition for the team, which, thanks to its knowledge and experience, provides irreplaceable support for our clients, business partners, contractors, engineering companies and architects in various investment projects!

Verified customer reviews as well as progressive solutions in residential, commercial, infrastructure, green energy and construction consulting have permanently associated our company with large-scale projects.

We are here to help at every stage of your project!

With pride, we can boast of our participation in key events, such as the Andersia Silver project in Poznań or support for Novum Plus Sp. z o. o. in expanding their development portfolio. We reliably represent clients in contract disputes, including those based on FIDIC, and in matters related to public procurement.

What sets us apart? Undoubtedly: commitment, knowledge, experience and professional management of your affairs. We are here for you!

 

Since last year, new regulations of the Labour Code regarding remote working have been in force. As a rule, the rules for remote working are set out in an agreement between the employer and the company trade union organisation(s). If there are no company trade union organisations at a particular employer, the employer defines the rules for remote working in regulations after consultation with employee representatives. Even if the employer does not regulate remote work in the regulations, the performance of remote work by the employee is possible through a remote work order or an agreement concluded individually with the employee.

In the Labour Code, the rules for remote working are set out in Article 6720. Section 6 of the aforementioned provision indicates the minimum content of an agreement with the unions/regulation of remote working. In view of this, for the rest, the employer has the right to regulate remote working at its own discretion. Therefore, the employer may also regulate in the agreement or regulations the issue of the employee’s possible appearance at the workplace at the employer’s call for specific purposes, e.g. for meetings, organisational purposes, etc.

However, the situation is different if the employer does not regulate this, as the provisions of the Labour Code also do not address the issue of whether an employee working remotely may be summoned to appear in the office, e.g. for a meeting.

First of all, it is worth noting the content of Article 100 § 1 of the Labour Code, according to which the employee is obliged to comply with the instructions of his/her superiors. As a rule, a remote employee should not be treated differently from a stationary employee, as employees should not be discriminated against due to their form of employment. This leads to the conclusion that a superior could issue an order for a remote employee to attend a meeting or training in the office.

It is also worth pointing out that the legislator introduces in the Labour Code explicit prohibitions on certain actions of the employer towards certain groups of employees. By contrast, there is no prohibition on summoning a remote worker to the workplace, e.g. for organisational reasons. It should therefore be concluded that in the absence of such a prohibition, the above-mentioned action of the employer is permissible under the provisions of the Labour Code.

It is also sometimes indicated that, depending on the definition of the place of work in the remote employee’s contract, a remote employee’s travel to the office may be considered as business travel. A business trip is a trip away from the location of the employer’s registered office or the employee’s permanent place of work, during which the employee performs official tasks, and at the same time it must be at the employer’s instruction. Therefore, if the contract specifies only the employer’s registered office (or both the employer’s registered office and the place of remote work, such as the employee’s place of residence) as the place of work, then the commute to the office should not be included as a business trip.

On the other hand, if the employment contract specifies that the remote employee’s place of work is only a place that is not the employer’s registered office, such as the employee’s residence, then the employee’s travel to the office could be considered as business travel.

Author:

apl. solic. Klaudia Szymańska

In connection with the entry into force of the Act of 7 July 2023 amending the Act – Code of Civil Procedure, the Act – Law on the System of Common Courts, the Act – Code of Criminal Procedure and some other acts, a number of changes are being introduced in the organisation of court hearings as part of civil proceedings.

---

As of 14 March 2024, further provisions of the amendment will come into force, which are to significantly improve the course of proceedings themselves. The new regulations are aimed at improving the functioning of the judiciary by allowing remote hearings and through the development of the ICT system.

Below we are presenting the major changes to come into force as of 14 March 2024.

 

Service of pleadings via the information portal

This March, Article 131^1a of the CCP will come into force , according to which, in the event of an inability to effectively serve court papers via the ICT system, the court will serve them only by placing their content on the information portal in a way that allows the recipient to obtain a document confirming the service. However, this regulation does not apply to letters which, in principle, are to be served together with copies of pleadings of the parties, except in cases where the court has an electronic copy of a pleading.

A pleading posted on the information portal will be deemed to have been served at the time indicated in a service confirmation document. In the absence of the service confirmation document, the service will be deemed effective 14 days after the date of posting the content of the letter on the information portal. It should be noted that in case of service via the portal, Article 134 § 1 of the CCP, according to which service on bank holidays or at night is only allowed in exceptional cases by prior order of the court president, will not apply.

Moreover, the new regulation obliges the chair to issue an order not to serve a document via the information portal if such service is impossible due to the nature of the document, in particular if it is necessary to issue a certified copy of a judgement or a writ of execution to the party.

 

An account in the information portal is a new obligation for attorneys

In connection with the implementation of the civil procedure consisting in service via the information portal, an obligation to have an account in the information portal has been introduced for a number of entities:

• legal counsels – Article 22¹¹ of the Act of 6 July 1982 on legal counsels (consolidated text: Journal of Laws 2022, item 1166);
• attorneys – Article 37d of the Act of 26 May 1982 – Law on the Advocates’ Profession (consolidated text: Journal of Laws 2022, item 1184, as amended);
• patent attorneys – Article 16b of the Act of 11 April 2001 on patent attorneys (Journal of Laws 2023, item 303);
• court experts – Article 157 §1a of the Act of 27 July 2001 Law on the System of Common Courts (consolidated text: Journal of Laws 2023, item 217, as amended);
• the General Counsel – Article 36a of the Act of 15 December 2016 on the General Counsel to the Republic of Poland (Journal of Laws 2023, item 1109).

Remote sessions for good

In accordance with Article 151 of the amended CCP, the chair will be able to order a public hearing using technical devices enabling a remote hearing, if this is not prevented by the nature of the activities to be carried out at the hearing, and the remote hearing is held in a way that guarantees the full protection of the procedural rights of the parties and the proper course of the proceedings. The chair will order for a remote meeting to be held:

• ex officio
• at the request of the participant of the hearing who has indicated his/her e-mail address (the deadline for submitting the application is 7 days from the date of serving a notification or summons to the hearing).

When summoning to a remote hearing, the court will inform the participants about the possibility of appearing in person in the courtroom or notifying about a remote participation in the hearing no later than 3 working days before the scheduled date of the hearing. For effective notification of the intention to participate in the hearing remotely it will be sufficient to notify the court by e-mail about the intention to participate in the hearing remotely and indicate a valid e-mail address.

After receiving a summons to a remote hearing, persons who do not submit an application for a remote hearing or do not inform about an intention to participate in the hearing remotely will be obliged to attend the hearing in the court conducting the proceedings without additional notice.

It should be noted here that a remote hearing will not be possible in case of a person whom a request for incapacitation concerns, if he/she is to be heard, or in case of participation of experts in that procedure.  

 

Remote examination of evidence

In accordance with amended Article 427 of the CCP, a hearing in camera does not prevent remote examination of evidence during a remote hearing, if this may significantly accelerate the examination of the case or contribute to cost savings.

If the nature of the evidence to be examined allows, the adjudicating court will be able to examine evidence remotely during a remote hearing. Moreover, in accordance with Article 235¹ of the CCP, the parties will be entitled to request examination of evidence at a remote hearing in the motion for evidence.

 

Remote objection to hearing of a witness

According to Article 263¹ of the CCP, a party will be able to object to hearing of a witness outside the courtroom during a remote hearing, but no later than within 7 days from the date of obtaining information about an intention to examine evidence in such a way. In the event of an effective objection, the court will summon the witness to appear in the courtroom in person.

 

Partner of the Law Firm JLSW Janaszczyk Lis & Wspólnicy Spółka Komandytowa Attorney in Law Tomasz Janaszczyk on February 2-4, 2024, had the honor to participate in the Winter Meeting of the Legal Netlink Alliance (LNA) Europe organized in Malta, which was attended by lawyers from all over the world.

---

The Legal Netlink Alliance (LNA) is a global association of law firms that offers members and their clients access to international first-class legal representation. Additionally, LNA provides a unique platform for the exchange of knowledge and experience between lawyers from different countries, thereby strengthening global legal cooperation.

Thanks to our membership in LNA, we can provide our clients with comprehensive legal assistance in matters bordering Polish law and other legal systems.

We are pleased to announce that during this prestigious event, a partner of the JLSW Janaszczyk Lis & Wspólnicy Spółka Komandytowa Law Firm, Atorney in Law Tomasz Janaszczyk, was elected to the Management Board of LEGAL Netlink Alliance. 👏

Joining the board of Legal Netlink Alliance (LNA) Europe is, above all, proof of recognition of competence and commitment to the association’s activities.

E-doręczenia to usługa, która umożliwia wysyłanie i odbieranie korespondencji drogą elektroniczną, ze skutkiem równoważnym z listem poleconym za potwierdzeniem odbioru (za gov.pl). Oznacza to, że za pomocą komputera przedsiębiorcy będą mogli, bez względu na porę dnia i z dowolnego miejsca, nadać lub odebrać przesyłkę. Usługa ta wymaga jednak rejestracji.

Skrzynkę elektroniczną powinni posiadać między innymi przedsiębiorcy zarejestrowani w CEIDG oraz KRS ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem podmiotów niepublicznych – fundacji i stowarzyszeń – oraz zawodów zaufania publicznego takich jak adwokat, radca prawny, notariusz, doradca podatkowy, doradca restrukturyzacyjny oraz rzecznik patentowy.

Ostateczny termin wdrożenia rozwiązań technicznych niezbędnych do doręczania korespondencji               z wykorzystaniem publicznej usługi rejestrowanego doręczenia elektronicznego lub publicznej usługi hybrydowej oraz udostępnienia w systemie teleinformatycznym punktu dostępu do usług rejestrowanego doręczenia elektronicznego w ruchu transgranicznym został już kolejny raz zmieniony.

W zależności od daty rejestracji podmiotu niepublicznego w CEIDG lub KRS przedsiębiorców obowiązują inne terminy na wdrożenie systemu e-Doręczeń:

CEIDG

• przedsiębiorcy zarejestrowani do 31 grudnia 2024 r do 30 września 2026 r,
• przedsiębiorcy rejestrujący się od 1 stycznia 2025 od 1 stycznia 2025 r.

 

 KRS:

• przedsiębiorcy uzyskujący wpis przed dniem określonym w komunikacie Ministra Cyfryzacji (nie wcześniej niż 30 marca 2024 r. i nie później niż 1 stycznia 2025 r.) – w terminie 3 miesięcy od dnia określonego w komunikacie Ministra Cyfryzacji

Obecnie publiczną usługę rejestrowanego doręczenia elektronicznego świadczy Poczta Polska S.A. natomiast kwalifikowaną podmioty spełniające standardy świadczenia usług dotyczące bezpieczeństwa i wiarygodności. Podmiotom niepublicznym będącym przedsiębiorcami zarejestrowanymi w KRS przysługuje uprawnienie do wyboru usługodawcy.

Jeżeli spółka zdecyduje się korzystać z usług publicznego podmiotu może uzyskać adres elektroniczny poprzez złożenie wniosku on-line przez stronę www.gov.pl/web/e-doreczenia w zakładce „Uzyskaj adres do e – doręczenia”. W przypadku usług kwalifikowanego dostawcy uzyskaniem adresu oraz wpisaniem go do rejestru zajmie się usługodawca.

Wniosek o uzyskanie adresu elektronicznego może w imieniu spółki złożyć pełnomocnik lub reprezentant. Inaczej rzecz się ma w przypadku spółek z ograniczoną odpowiedzialnością, gdyż w tym przypadku wniosek złożyć musi członek zarządu uprawniony do samodzielnej reprezentacji lub osoba wybrana przez zarząd          na pełnomocnika.

Wdrożenie systemu e-doręczeń niesie za sobą wiele korzyści dla przedsiębiorców. Warto zwrócić uwagę na usprawnienie systemu przepływu korespondencji, archiwizacji oraz ułatwienie dostępu do danych za pomocą dowolnych urządzeń elektronicznych. Rozwiązania te przybliżają systemy administracji państwowej do pełnej informatyzacji, a co za tym idzie do unowocześnienia aktualnego mechanizmu komunikacji pomiędzy organami państwa a podmiotami gospodarczymi.