The reality of transgender employees in Poland: legal aspects, assessment of work capacity, and mental health

Transgender people in Poland face numerous legal challenges and problems arising from functioning in the professional environment. The procedure for legal gender recognition is not governed by uniform procedural regulations, which causes a high level of stress and uncertainty relating to the final court decision. Even in cases where the ruling is favourable to the applicant, there is a lack of consistent administrative guidelines enabling prompt and safe updating of personal data in official documents. Additionally, before completing the legal transition process, transgender individuals often cannot use their preferred name or pronouns in internal company documents, which may exacerbate gender dysphoria. Ambiguous occupational medicine standards further intensify employment-related difficulties, allowing for interpretative arbitrariness and hindering the ability to obtain a medical certificate of fitness for work. Moreover, in the workplace, transgender people are often exposed to pathological phenomena such as microaggressions and discrimination, which constitute a significant risk factor for the deterioration of their mental health. In light of these challenges, this article addresses the situation of transgender employees in Poland. The authors focus on the analysis of legal barriers, occupational health assessment difficulties, and negative workplace phenomena that may lead to serious consequences for mental health. The aim of this paper is to highlight key problems and indicate possible directions for action to improve the professional situation of transgender individuals. Med Pr Work Health Saf. 2026;77(2):163–178