One of the most significant legal acts concerning the sale and management of insurance risk was issued on January 20, 2016, based on Directive (EU) 2016/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 January 2016 on insurance distribution (IDD Directive). The adoption of European IDD principles aims to enhance transparency in the operations of insurance distributors and improve the standards of their business practices. Its protective scope encompasses all individuals and entities involved in the sale of insurance products. The aim of the article is to ascertain the regulatory authorities’ impact on the insurance market, consideration of consumer protection, in light of the changes introduced by the IDD directive. The primary entities under examination, in the mentioned context of consumer protection, are distributors and supervisory authorities. The discussion includes an overview of the scale of the insurance market and its fundamental applications, as well as compliance within the framework of behavioural economics theory. Additionally, the paper addresses the aspect of threats posed to consumers by the analyzed changes in the European insurance distribution market. In this segment, the authors concentrate on the economic and social ramifications of IDD implementation for entities operating within the insurance market. The concluding section outlines the potential for development and the future prospects of financial intermediation concerning IDD utilization.

Examining selected aspects of labour market performance in the Polish tourism sector can extend our knowledge of hotel company attitudes in connection with COVID-19. The aims of this article are to present selected determinants of labour market performance in the Polish tourism sector (with particular emphasis on the hotel industry) in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic and to address the following research question: how did the COVID-19 pandemic affect the functioning of hotel companies in the key tourist region of Poland—Zachodniopomorskie province? The research methods used in the study included critical analysis of source literature, survey method, correspondence analysis method, and analysis of primary and secondary data, mainly from official statistics. The survey was conducted in January 2022. Information was collected from 129 respondents using surveys. The results of the research presented in the article reveal that the observed long-term upward trend in the national labour market has been halted by the pandemic and that (among the various accommodation facilities) hotels are the most vulnerable to changes in the tourism labour market. The authors’ contributions to the literature are the identification of the extent to which businesses from the hotel industry have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the determination of the impact of the pandemic on selected employment-related aspects of business operations in Zachodniopomorskie province.

The objective of the article is to delineate the role of insurance in alleviating the financial ramifications of natural disasters. To achieve this objective, two research questions were formulated: 1) What are the magnitude and economic implications of natural disasters? 2) How does disaster insurance contribute to the process of asset reconstruction? In preparing the article, the authors conducted a review of literature pertaining to the subject matter and analysed secondary data sourced from reports and publications of international institutions and organisations involved in addressing the financial impact of natural disasters. Limitations of the conducted research include variations in the scale and impact of disasters across different countries, leading to a lack of uniform legal frameworks regarding the utilisation of insurance in mitigating the financial fallout of natural disasters.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a loss of the sense of financial security among employees. The consequence is decreased productivity, affecting employers who also suffer related costs. Actions to support employees’ financial wellness are therefore important and necessary, especially in the case of those working in the strategic sector ensuring national energy security. The main aim of the article is to present, from the theoretical and practical point of view, the essence and role of Employee Financial Wellness Programs (EFWPs) in the creation of an effective incentive system in energy sector companies in Poland during the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The following research methods were used: critical analysis of source literature, comparative analysis of existing data and the descriptive method with elements of deductive reasoning. In order to collect primary data, the indirect survey method was used, namely, the CAWI Internet survey technique, which was addressed to the main energy generation sector entities in the country. The research has shown that financial wellness instruments are new to the Polish market, where they have been in limited operation since 2021. It was confirmed that some companies in the energy sector are using such innovative tools, but they also show the need and interest to implement more extensive and comprehensive Employee Financial Wellness Programs that will reduce the financial stress of employees while motivating them to work more efficiently during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Motives: The COVID-19 pandemic has presented an unprecedented disruption to the global tourism economy. The diminished demand for hotel services, coupled with substantial operational uncertainty, compelled hoteliers to adopt survival strategies, often entailing workforce reductions. Aim: The objective of the article was to assess the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on employment levels in hotel establishments in Poland and to suggest a strategy that would enable these facilities to navigate similar challenges in the future. Results: The article explores the sensitivity of employment in the hotel industry to the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on a case study of Poland. It highlights significant changes in the hotel labour market during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study includes a detailed analysis of individuals working in the hotel industry from 2012 to 2021. Additionally, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on employment in Polish hotels was examined based on the collected primary data. The research findings affirm the industry’s susceptibility to pandemic risks, but they indicate that appropriate measures can mitigate negative effects. Consequently, the article proposes strategies to assist hotel facilities in overcoming similar challenges in the future.