work by the rules: an employee's reference

Work by the rules

Getting a job seems like a simple formality until the first question comes up: why hasn't the contract been signed yet, can probation be extended, when should the final settlement be paid? This reference gathers calm explanations of hiring and employment for people who work for an employer or are still looking for a job. We summarise the basic rules of the Russian Labour Code and suggest what to check and how to start a conversation with your employer. Rules differ in other countries, so if you work elsewhere, check your own law or ask a local adviser.

An employment contract protects both sides, but your own copy matters most to you: it shows what you actually agreed.

— Editor's note

Where to start

Before you are hired

How to read a job advert, what to ask at the interview and which verbal promises are worth asking to have written into the contract.

Contract and probation

What an employment contract consists of, how soon it must be put in writing after you start work and where the probation clause should appear.

Pay and leave

How often salary must be paid, what a payslip shows and how long the annual basic paid leave is.

Resignation and settlement

How to give your employer notice when you resign of your own accord, what counts as the day of dismissal and when the final settlement is paid.

Reference sections

Basics
What an employment relationship is made of: the contract, job title and duties, working hours, pay, leave and termination, and how a service contract differs.
Guides
Checklists for employees: preparing for an interview, the first month and probation, annual leave, resigning of your own accord and warning signs when hiring.
Documents
The papers that matter to an employee: the contract, the hiring order, the payslip, written requests and records of employment, and why to keep copies.
Examples
Hypothetical examples: working without a contract, probation extended verbally, infrequent pay, moved leave, an unpaid final settlement, a service contract instead.
What's new
New and updated sections of the reference and a way to check the current version of a legal rule yourself. The article catalogue is here too.
Terms
An employee's glossary: employment contract, probation, working hours, payslip, annual leave, overtime and final settlement.
FAQ
Short answers to common questions before hiring, while in work and when resigning of your own accord.

Your first working day: five checks

The contract is signed and you have a copy
An employment contract is made in writing, and the employee keeps their own copy. If signing keeps being postponed, remember the rule in Article 67 of the Russian Labour Code: once you have actually been admitted to work, the employer must put the contract in writing within three working days.
Job title and pay are written down
Find your job title, place of work and pay terms in the text. Verbal promises of bonuses and extra payments are hard to prove if they appear neither in the contract nor in the documents it refers to.
Probation is stated in the contract
If the employer mentions probation, the probation clause must be in the contract itself. Under Article 70 of the Russian Labour Code, probation lasts not more than three months, or not more than six months for heads of organisations, their deputies and chief accountants.
Your working hours are clear
Ask when the working day starts and ends, whether there are shifts and how extra hours are recorded. All of this should follow from the contract or the internal work regulations you are shown.
You know who to go to
Find out who your line manager is and where to take written requests and questions about pay, leave and documents. Then you will not have to hunt for the right person when a question is already urgent.

About this reference in brief

Are you a recruitment agency?

No. Regentjob is an independent reference. We do not recruit staff, publish vacancies, accept CVs or represent employers. You will only find general explanations of how employment relationships work here.

Can you look at my case and give me advice?

No, we do not give personal advice. The reference explains general rules and suggests where to go next: first to your employer in writing, then to the labour inspectorate or the court. A lawyer who sees your documents can assess your specific situation.

Is this about Russian law?

Yes. All materials are based on the Labour Code of the Russian Federation. In other countries employment is governed by their own laws, and the deadlines and rules there can be quite different, so check your own law or ask a local adviser.

Can I work without a contract?

You can start work without a signed contract, but it is risky, above all for you: later it is harder to prove that you worked at all, on what terms and for what pay. Under Article 67 of the Russian Labour Code, if you have actually been admitted to work, the employer must put your contract in writing within three working days of that date. If this does not happen, ask in writing for the contract and keep everything that proves you worked: your pass, messages, tasks.

About us

This domain used to host a different website, and later unrelated spam pages appeared here. Their content has not been kept or reproduced, and the current reference has no connection with them.

We read the name simply: "job" means work. Regentjob explains employees' labour rights in plain language and is based on the Russian Labour Code. We do not publish vacancies, name companies or rate employers, and in disputed cases we advise contacting a lawyer or the labour inspectorate.

Basics
What an employment relationship is made of: the contract, job title and duties, working hours, pay, leave and termination, and how a service contract differs.
Guides
Checklists for employees: preparing for an interview, the first month and probation, annual leave, resigning of your own accord and warning signs when hiring.
FAQ
Short answers to common questions before hiring, while in work and when resigning of your own accord.

Sources

Labour Code of the Russian Federation, Articles 67, 70, 80, 115, 136, 140
Official Internet Portal of Legal Information (Russia)

These materials are based on the Labour Code of the Russian Federation and describe Russian law only. Labour rules change from time to time, so check each article against the current version on the official legal information portal. Rules differ in other countries: check your own law or ask a local adviser, and in a real dispute with an employer contact a lawyer or the labour inspectorate.