The expert reminded about additional days off and study holidays for employees

The Labor Code of the Russian Federation provides for a number of additional days off and study holidays for employees, including holidays off from work, rest days for donors and parents of children with disabilities. Anastasia Gorelkina, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of JSC HC Siberian Business Union, member of the Board of Directors of JSC Azot, told Izvestia on March 23.

"The most common reason is to work on a holiday or on a weekend: an employee has the right to choose time off instead of double pay," she noted.

As the expert emphasized, starting from March 1, 2025, such rest days can be used throughout the year or added to vacations — the relevant changes are fixed by federal law No. 339-FZ.

According to her, certain categories of employees have additional guarantees. Thus, blood donors receive an exemption from work on the day of delivery and an additional paid day off. Parents of children with disabilities are entitled to four paid days off per month, which can be combined and used for up to 24 consecutive days once a year. For single parents and guardians of children under the age of 16 in the regions of the Far North, an additional day off is provided without pay.

From five and more: all parental leave up to 1.5 years will be included in the insurance record

The recalculation of pensions since January has already affected 400,000 mothers with many children.

In addition, Gorelkina said that study leave is provided subject to a number of conditions: an employee must receive an education at this level for the first time, an educational institution must have state accreditation, and the place of work must be the main one. With correspondence and full-time forms of education, average earnings are maintained, while full-time education does not involve paid leave.

The duration of the study leave depends on the level of education and the course. For university students in their first years, it is up to 40 days, for senior students — up to 50 days, and for final certification it can take up to four months. The terms are shorter for students of secondary vocational education — from 30 to 40 days, and for final exams — up to two months.

The expert added that the number of study holidays per year is not directly limited, but their duration depends on the course of study.

"When studying at two educational institutions at once, paid leave is granted only for one of them — at the employee's choice (Article 177 of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation). It should also be remembered that the law does not guarantee the right to benefits for obtaining a second education at the same level — the employer can provide them only voluntarily, having fixed them in an employment or collective agreement," concluded Gorelkina.

Production calendar for 2026: official weekends and holidays

Anna Pokrovskaya, an assistant at the Department of Civil Law and Process and International Law at the RUDN Law Institute, said on March 20 that Russia does not have long weekends in April. It is noted that the country had a long weekend in March in connection with International Women's Day — they lasted from March 7 to March 9. The next long weekend is expected in May.

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