New rules for registration of sick leave — what has changed since September 1, 2025

In September 2025, new rules for registration of sick leave came into force in Russia. They will affect employees who often miss work due to illness and injury. Read about what has changed and how disability benefits are calculated in the Izvestia article.

What has changed in the registration of sick leave since September 1

The main innovation effective from September 1, 2025, was to reduce the length of sick leave. Previously, internists could issue a sick leave for up to 15 days, dentists - up to 10 days an unlimited number of times.

However, now, if an employee has received sick leave four times in the last six months, the maximum period of temporary disability for the fifth application will be only three days. It will be possible to extend it only through a medical commission consisting of several specialists, which excludes the possibility of making a decision by one attending physician.

It is assumed that such measures will help reduce the number of unreasonably issued disability certificates, as well as reduce the burden on employers and social funds.

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Records will be kept for all disability certificates issued for six months, regardless of the duration and severity of the disease or injury. The restrictions apply only to the employee's own illness. If a temporary disability was registered to care for a family member, it will not be counted.

For example, if an employee issued a disability certificate four times from March to September due to a cold or injury, the fifth time they will be able to take sick leave for only three days. But if during the same period an employee took two sick days due to a cold and two more to treat a child, for the fifth time he will be able to freely apply for disability for 10-15 days.

There are other exceptions that are not covered by the new restriction.:

• taking medical rehabilitation courses;
• treatment of serious diseases;
• treatment of socially significant diseases (tuberculosis, hepatitis B and C, malignant neoplasms, HIV, diabetes mellitus, etc.).

Thus, patients with chronic and socially significant diseases will continue to receive sick leave in the same order.

How sick leave is calculated in 2025

Sick leave compensation is calculated based on an employee's average earnings and work experience. The longer a person works, the higher the payouts.:

• with an experience of up to 5 years — 60% of the average earnings;
• from 5 to 8 years — 80%;
• over 8 years — 100%.

The average daily earnings for the previous two calendar years are used to calculate the allowance. If the employee was on maternity leave, then compensation for him will be calculated based on income for the two years preceding the vacation. Employees can apply for a recalculation of benefits if this will increase payments.

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The amount of the average daily earnings depends on the amount of payments from which the employer paid the insurance premiums. Their amount is divided by the number of days of the billing period — 730. The result obtained is the average daily earnings, while there is a maximum contribution value, after which payments cease to accrue. In 2023, this is 1,917,000 rubles, and in 2024 — 2,225,000 rubles.

For those who have been working for less than six months, the allowance will be calculated according to the minimum wage. In 2025, the minimum one-day sick leave payment will be:

• in a month with 30 days - 748 rubles;
• in a month with 31 days — 723.87 rubles;
• in February — 801.43 rubles.

You can use the Izvestia online calculator to calculate sick leave.

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