Working Hours and Overtime in Russia

What Are the Standard Working Hours In Russia?

An employee whose age is 16 or younger has a maximum of 24 hours per week. An employee whose age is between 16-18 has a maximum of 35 hours per week. An employee whose age is 18 or older is allowed to work 40 hours per week. In typical working hours, Monday through Friday, the hours are 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with a one-hour lunch break.

Maximum Working Hours in Russia

In Russia, the legal cap on working hours is firmly set at 40 hours per week for most adult employees. This is typically structured as an eight-hour workday across a five-day workweek. The law is designed to protect employees from excessive work demands while maintaining productivity.

Overtime is permitted under specific circumstances, but it requires written consent from the employee in most cases. Russian labor law strictly limits overtime to no more than 4 hours over two consecutive days and caps it at 120 hours annually per employee. These restrictions ensure that overtime remains the exception rather than the norm in Russian workplaces.

Industry Specific Exceptions

Several industries in Russia operate under modified working hour regulations due to their unique operational requirements. Healthcare workers, for instance, often work according to shift schedules that may differ from the standard 40-hour workweek, particularly for those providing round-the-clock care.

Transportation workers, especially those involved in long-distance travel or operating public transportation systems, follow specialized schedules that accommodate the continuous nature of their services. These exceptions typically include provisions for adequate rest periods between shifts to ensure safety and prevent fatigue-related incidents.

Managerial and Exempt Employees

In Russian labor law, managerial employees are generally defined as those who hold leadership positions with decision-making authority and responsibility for organizational outcomes. While the standard 40-hour workweek technically applies to managers as well, they often fall under what's known as "non-normalized working hours" (ненормированный рабочий день).

Under this arrangement, managers may be required to work beyond standard hours when necessary without additional overtime compensation. However, this doesn't mean unlimited work hours – employers must still respect reasonable limits and provide additional vacation days (typically 3-14 calendar days) as compensation for potential extra hours worked throughout the year. As of March 1, 2025, employees will have the legal right to receive financial compensation for unused rest days if they leave their job before using them.

Statutory Full-Time Working Hours in Russia

Full-time employment in Russia is legally defined as 40 hours per week, typically distributed across five working days. This standard applies broadly across most industries and serves as the baseline for calculating part-time arrangements, overtime, and other working time variations.

While the 40-hour workweek is the norm, employers and employees can agree to alternative arrangements within this framework. For example, some companies might implement a 4-day workweek with 10-hour days or other flexible schedules, provided the total weekly hours don't exceed the statutory maximum. This flexibility allows organizations to adapt working patterns to their specific operational needs while remaining compliant with labor regulations.

Overtime Regulations in Russia

What Counts As Overtime in Russia?

In Russia, overtime is defined as any work performed beyond the established standard working time at the employer's initiative. This means any hours worked beyond the normal 40-hour workweek or 8-hour workday are considered overtime. It's important to note that overtime must be properly documented and, in most cases, requires the written consent of the employee before it can be assigned.

Maximum Overtime In Russia

Russian labor law sets strict limits on overtime work to prevent employee burnout and ensure fair working conditions. The maximum overtime allowed is 4 hours over two consecutive days and cannot exceed 120 hours per year per employee. Employers who violate these limits may face administrative penalties, including fines that vary based on the severity and frequency of the violations. Repeated infractions can result in increased penalties and potential legal action from affected employees.

Overtime Payout Rates In Russia

Overtime compensation in Russia follows a progressive structure designed to discourage excessive use of overtime while ensuring fair compensation when it's necessary. For the first two hours of overtime work, employees must receive at least 1.5 times their standard hourly rate. For all subsequent overtime hours, the compensation increases to at least 2 times the standard hourly rate.

Work performed on weekends or public holidays is compensated at a minimum of double the standard rate, regardless of whether it falls within regular working hours or constitutes overtime. Alternatively, with mutual agreement, employees may receive compensatory time off equivalent to the overtime worked instead of additional pay, though this must be clearly documented and agreed upon by both parties.

Rest Periods and Breaks In Russia

Russian labor law recognizes the importance of adequate rest for employee wellbeing and productivity. During the workday, employees are entitled to a rest and meal break of at least 30 minutes and up to 2 hours, which is not counted as working time. This break typically occurs after the employee has worked no more than 4 consecutive hours.

Between work shifts, employees must be provided with at least 12 consecutive hours of rest. This ensures that workers have sufficient time to recover before returning to work. Additionally, Russian law mandates weekly uninterrupted rest periods of at least 42 hours, typically structured as weekends (Saturday and Sunday).

For certain industries with continuous operations, such as healthcare or emergency services, alternative rest schedules may be implemented, but employers must ensure equivalent rest time is provided. Special provisions exist for vulnerable groups, including pregnant women, parents of young children, and minors, who may be entitled to additional breaks or modified schedules.

Employers are responsible for maintaining records of working hours and rest periods, and failure to provide mandatory rest breaks can result in administrative penalties and potential employee compensation claims.

Night Shifts and Weekend Regulations

In Russia, night work is legally defined as work performed between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM. Employees working during these hours are entitled to higher compensation rates than their daytime counterparts, with at least 20% higher pay. Additionally, the duration of night shifts is typically reduced by one hour compared to day shifts, though this reduction may not apply in certain industries where continuous operations are necessary.

Weekend work in Russia is generally prohibited except in specific circumstances outlined by law, such as emergency situations, continuous production processes, or public service requirements. When weekend work is necessary, employers must compensate employees at a minimum of double their standard rate. Alternatively, employees may receive an additional day of rest if they prefer time off instead of increased pay.

Certain categories of workers, including pregnant women, parents of young children, and minors, have additional protections regarding night and weekend work, with restrictions on when they can be scheduled for these shifts. Employers must obtain written consent for night and weekend work in most cases and maintain detailed records of such arrangements.

How Playroll Simplifies Employer Responsibilities and Compliance

Expanding your workforce across international borders is an exciting step, but it can be challenging to keep up with ever-changing local labor laws and regulations in different countries. That's the advantage of using an Employer of Record like Playroll:

       
• Scale your global team: Legally hire and swiftly onboard new hires in 185+ regions without the red tape by offloading the HR admin to Playroll, so you can freely explore new markets and focus on growth.
       
• Stay compliant: Our built-in compliance checks and vetted contracts mean your agreements will always meet all legal requirements for working hours, overtime regulations, and more.
       
• Pay your team accurately: Ensure your international employees and global contractors are paid on time, every time, and set up centralized global payroll processes.