Working hours will generally be cut by an hour on November 3 ahead of National Unity Day, with no reduction in pay. Shift work and continuous production may require different arrangements, with compensation due if a shift cannot be shortened.
Russia’s final pre-holiday workday of 2026 will fall on Tuesday, November 3. Working hours will generally be shortened by one hour ahead of National Unity Day, observed on November 4. Maria Kutarova, an associate professor of business, labour and corporate law at the Presidential Academy, told RIA Novosti.
Kutarova said the rule applies to all employees and does not mean a reduction in pay. The November 3 schedule may differ for shift workers and employees at facilities with continuous production, where work cannot simply be stopped.
If a shift cannot technically be shortened by an hour, the employer must compensate for that time under labour law. Kutarova said November 3 will be the final shortened workday of 2026.