Russia’s 2026 work year begins with no set hours or rules
Russians have returned to work for the first week of 2026. Unlike many countries, the start of the working year follows a period without government-mandated rules on operating hours. In late 2025, no institution issued guidelines on when shops or offices should open or close. This flexibility extends to shift workers, whose hours may fall on public holidays but are balanced over a longer accounting period.
January 2026 features an uneven split between work and rest. The month includes 15 working days and 16 non-working days. Employees on a standard 40-hour week will complete around 120 hours by the end of January. Many businesses resumed operations on Monday, 5 January, after the New Year break. Without centralised regulations, individual businesses set their own return dates and daily schedules.
The absence of legal working-hour requirements means businesses adjust their timetables independently. Workers on regular contracts will log 120 hours this month, while shift patterns remain flexible. The system allows employers to adapt to economic conditions rather than follow fixed national rules.
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