The lawyer spoke about the right to a shorter working day during the holidays

The initiatives of deputies to shorten the working day between the May holidays are not mandatory without making changes to the legislation, while for certain categories of employees, the shortened working hours are already fixed at the level of the law. Sofya Lukinova, head of the Legal department of VMT Consult, told Izvestia about this on April 16.

"The employer has the right to independently introduce a shortened working day by issuing an appropriate order and notifying employees. At the same time, it is necessary to follow the established procedure, including submitting a notification to the labor inspectorate through the portal "Work in Russia," the expert explained.

Lukinova stressed that the reduction of working hours directly affects wages. In such cases, the salary is calculated in proportion to the actual time worked or the amount of work performed under the piecework system.

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The expert also noted that not all employees have a reduced day at the initiative of the employer. For certain categories, including minors, disabled people of groups I and II, as well as workers with harmful working conditions, legally established restrictions on working hours are already in effect.

At the same time, the employer is not obliged to introduce a shortened day in the absence of regulatory requirements. However, as Lukinova emphasized, if such a decision was officially promised to employees, a subsequent refusal could lead to labor disputes.

"In addition, certain categories of employees, including parents with many children and those caring for sick relatives, have the right to independently request a reduction in working hours. In such cases, the employer is obliged to satisfy the application," the lawyer clarified.

According to the expert, maintaining a balance between the interests of business and the rights of employees remains a key condition when making decisions about working hours.

On the same day, State Duma Deputy Georgy Kamnev, in an interview with TASS, suggested that employees be released two hours earlier during the working week between the May holidays. The parliamentarian called this time one of the best to spend it with loved ones in the spring weather.

Ekaterina Stenyakina, a member of the State Duma Committee on Labor, Social Policy and Veterans' Affairs, announced on April 15 that holidays and non-working days in May 2026 would not affect the salaries of Russians. At the same time, additional support measures are provided for employees on hourly or piecework pay during non-working days.

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