🇷🇺

Russia

Employment Guide & Cultural Intelligence

Overview

Capital Moscow
Currency RUB
Language Russian
Time Zone UTC+3 (MSK)
GDP per Capita $15,400
Work Week 40 hours

Employment Basics

Standard Work Week 40 hours
Notice Period 2 weeks to 2 months
Probation Period 3 months
Overtime Rules 50% first 2 hrs, 100% additional; capped at 4 hrs over 2 days
Termination Rules Specific statutory grounds; severance 2 weeks to 3 months
Minimum Wage RUB 19,242/mo (~€190) federal (2024; some regions higher)

Statutory Benefits

28
Annual Leave Days
14
Public Holidays
42
Total Paid Days Off
Parental Leave 140 days maternity; childcare leave to age 3
Sick Leave First 3 days by employer, then social insurance (60-100% based on tenure)

Employer Cost Summary

30%
Employer Tax/Contribution Rate
Mandatory Insurance Social Fund of Russia (30% combined): pension, health, social, accident
Retirement/Pension State pension; age 65 men, 60 women (post-2018 reform)
Healthcare Public OMS system + many corporate VHI policies (DMS)

Cultural Intelligence

Communication Style

Direct in business; warmth in personal; smiling reserved for friends

Hierarchy

Strong hierarchy; titles and seniority highly respected

Meeting Norms

Punctual expected of foreigners; substantive; long discussions normal

Negotiation Approach

Patient, hard bargaining; verbal agreements need written backup

Gift Giving

Welcome; quality items; vodka and chocolates classic; odd flowers

Taboos

Sanctions context complicates business — verify legal compliance carefully

Hiring Tips

1 Sanctions environment requires legal review for Western companies
2 Strong technical talent, especially in IT and engineering
3 13th month salary common but not statutory
4 Notice periods short by Western standards — 2 weeks to 2 months
5 English limited outside Moscow and St. Petersburg international firms
Quick Facts
  • Work Week 40 hrs
  • Annual Leave 28 days
  • Public Holidays 14
  • Employer Burden 30%
  • Probation 3 months
  • Currency RUB
Calculate Hiring Cost All Country Guides

Put this knowledge to work

Four ways to build verified cultural intelligence, from free to full access.

Free · no card

Get your Global Cultural Intelligence score

A short assessment that scores how you handle real cross-cultural business situations.

Take the free assessment
$49 one-time

Certified Cross-Cultural Negotiator (CCCN)

  • Complete 10 simulations across 5+ countries on 3+ continents, averaging 75+
  • Generate a full Briefing Deck for 3 different countries
  • Use the AI Email Coach for 3 different country contexts
  • Pass the 20-question capstone knowledge check (75%)

LinkedIn-ready credential with a public verification link. Includes 30 days of Pro access.

Start this certification
$29/month

GoKulturely Pro

Unlimited negotiation simulations across all 109+ countries, briefing decks, and the Cultural Risk Copilot. First month $9.

See Pro plans
$79/month

GoKulturely Pro Plus

Everything in Pro, plus all 9 specialist certifications and the CCCN included — worth $310 if bought separately.

See Pro Plus