Russia Employment Guide

Russia is located in northern Eurasia, with a vast territory and the largest land area in the world. It borders the Pacific Ocean to the east and multiple European countries to the west. With a population of approximately 146 million, its economy is dominated by energy (oil and natural gas), mining, manufacturing, agriculture and services. Moscow, the capital, serves as the political, economic and cultural center. Russia’s labor laws require employment contracts to be in writing, with a standard 40-hour workweek. They guarantee the minimum wage, social insurance and paid leave. Dismissals must comply with legal procedures and include compensation for employees. The country has a relatively well-established labor relations system and provides certain policy support for foreign-funded enterprises, but attention must be paid to compliance with legal and administrative procedures.

Check recruitment costs

Currency

Russian Ruble (RUB)

Capital

Moscow

Official language

Russian

Salary Cycle

Monthly

Our Employment Guide in Russia

Browse the following tags to learn all about hiring employees in Russia

Essential Components of Russian Employment Contracts

Employment agreements in Russia must be drafted in Russian, though bilingual versions are permissible. All contracts require written format with signatures from both employer and employee to be legally valid.

Comprehensive contracts should clearly specify these critical elements:

Contract duration and termination conditions
Employment classification (full-time or part-time)
Official start date of employment
Primary workplace location
Probationary period terms and assessment criteria
Job title with detailed description of responsibilities
Mutual obligations between parties
Liability provisions for both employer and employee
Compensation structure and payment schedule
Standard working hours and break periods
Vacation entitlement and holiday policies
Workplace safety and environmental conditions
Mandatory social insurance requirements
Any supplementary agreements or special clauses

Navigating Probationary Periods in Russian Employment

SailGlobal implements a standard 90-day probation period for new hires, extendable to 180 days for senior or specialized positions. Since January 2022, SailGlobal has mandated probation clauses in all employment contracts as part of its global compliance strategy.

Probation periods serve as a mutual evaluation phase, allowing employers to assess performance integration while enabling employees to determine organizational fit. This practice has proven effective in reducing long-term mismatches, as demonstrated by SailGlobal's 30% improvement in employee retention rates across European operations.

International Best Practices

Companies like SailGlobal often incorporate performance metrics during probation, combining regular feedback sessions with clear objectives. For instance, a German manufacturing firm reduced early turnover by 45% after implementing structured probation assessments similar to SailGlobal's framework.

Hire easily in Russia

Compare employee hiring costs across over 100 countries worldwide, helping you accurately calculate labor costs. Try it now

Cost Calculator

Please select the country/region you wish to recruit from, and the calculation can be done with just a few clicks.