In this page, we’ll break down all you need to know about leave laws in Russia.
Read on to learn about employees’ rights in regards to paid time off/annual leave, sick leave, parental leave, national/public holidays, and more.
This page is intended for reference purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Please see official government sources or consult a legal professional for actual legal advice.
Russian employees are entitled to 28 calendar days of paid annual leave. The employee is eligible to use their leave once they have completed six months of service with their employer, unless there is an agreement between employer and employee to allow the employee to take their leave earlier.
The employee’s annual leave can be divided into parts, but at least one part must be at least 14 calendar days long.
Annual leave must be used within 12 months of the time in which it is given, outside of exceptional circumstances.
When an employee leaves the company, all outstanding leave must be paid out with their final pay.
Learn more about Use It or Lose It policies here.
Employees in Russia are entitled to sick leave, which covers their own illness or injury or should they have to take care of a sick child or sick relative.
Sick leave is paid for by Social Security (which is partially funded by the employer).
For the first 10 days of being off work, employees receive compensation relative to the length of time they have been covered by Social Security:
After the first 10 days of being off work, the employee’s Social Security payout is half the amount mentioned above.
Russia has 14 public holidays:
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| January 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 | New Year Holidays |
| January 7 | Christmas Day |
| February 23 | Defender of the Fatherland Day |
| March 8 | International Women’s Day |
| May 1 | Spring and Labour Holiday |
| May 9 | Victory Day |
| June 12 | Day of Russia |
| November 4 | National Unity Day |
If a holiday falls on a weekend non-working day, the holiday transfers to the next working day.
Employees are paid their regular pay and receive a day off for Russian public holidays.
If an employee is required to work on a public holiday, they receive double their regular pay or a day off in lieu.
Employees in Russia are entitled to maternity leave, of 70 days pre-natal (extending to 84 days if giving birth to more than one child), and 70 days post-natal (extending to 86 days if there are complications, or 110 days if two or more children are born).
Maternity leave is paid for by Social Security.
Employees are entitled to five days of unpaid paternity leave following the birth of their child.
However, fathers raising a child without a mother are entitled to full maternity leave benefits.
Parents are entitled to take leave to care for their child under the age of three. This right extends to the child’s father, grandmother, grandfather, guardian or other relatives caring for the child.
Adoptive parents are entitled to take leave for the first 70 days following the child’s birth, or 110 days for the birth of two or more children, along with the same parental leave rights as above.
Employees in Russia are entitled to five days of unpaid leave for the death of a loved one.
What is Bereavement Leave? Click here to learn more.
In certain situations, employees are eligible for additional allowances of unpaid leave. These include:
https://glavkniga.ru/situations/k501390
https://www.consultant.ru/document/cons_doc_LAW_34683/98ef2900507766e70ff29c0b9d8e2353ea80a1cf/
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