New Year Work Schedule Changes in Russia
As the New Year approaches, the Ministry of Labor and Social Development of Russia has reminded citizens about the upcoming changes in the work schedule. Minister Anton Kotyakov confirmed that Russians will enjoy three days off from December 29 to 31. However, he emphasized that December 28 will still require a workday for many employees, as the last working week of the year extends from December 23 to 28.
For those on a five-day workweek, the schedule allows for a day off on December 30, following the transfer of the working day to Saturday, December 28. This means that the New Year holidays will provide a total of 11 consecutive days off, starting from December 29 and lasting until January 8, inclusive. Kotyakov noted that the idea of making December 31 a non-working day is not currently being pursued, as the existing holiday schedule accommodates this arrangement.
Legislative Discussions on December 31
The topic of December 31 being designated as a non-working day has been a point of contention in the State Duma. Recently, deputies rejected a bill that proposed this change, which had been under consideration since December 2020. The initiative was driven by concerns that many employees take leave on December 31 to prepare for New Year celebrations, which disrupts productivity.
Yaroslav Nilov, head of the State Duma Committee on Labor, highlighted that if December 31 were officially recognized as a holiday, it would eliminate the need for work on December 28. He pointed out that the emotional state of workers during this period is often focused on holiday preparations, making it challenging to maintain productivity. In 2020, President Vladimir Putin had recommended that regions declare December 31 a day off, indicating a broader recognition of the need for legislative clarity on this issue.
As discussions continue, experts have also weighed in on the implications for various sectors and the potential for using technology, such as neural networks, to assist Russians in their holiday preparations.
