Employment contract
The main document showing that you are employed rather than doing a one-off job. The contract is made in writing and you keep your own copy. Without it, you would have to prove the other terms of your work indirectly.
Basics
The basics
An employment relationship does not start with your first pay; it starts with an agreement about the work. The law describes it through a few key elements: who works and in what position, on what schedule, for what pay, how they rest and on what terms the contract ends. Once you understand these elements, any document from your employer is quicker to read and your questions become more precise.
Almost any conflict at work comes down to one of the basic terms. Knowing them in advance is calmer than finding out in the middle of a dispute.
This section describes the general logic of employment under the Russian Labour Code. Specific terms depend on your contract, your employer's internal documents and your industry, so compare this summary with your own papers. Rules differ in other countries: check your own law or ask a local adviser.
What an employment relationship is made of
The basic elements worth finding in your documents before your first working day.
Job title and duties
Your job title and what exactly you do. The more precisely your duties are described, the easier it is to discuss tasks that are not part of your job, and the clearer it is what you are responsible for.
Working hours
When work starts and ends, breaks, days off, shift or flexible schedules. Working hours come from the contract and the internal work regulations; if yours differ from the general ones in the organisation, it is worth writing this down separately.
Pay
The amount and method of pay, plus any extra payments and bonuses you are entitled to. Under Russian law, salary must be paid at least every half month, and the payslip shows how each payment was made up.
Leave
Annual basic paid leave is 28 calendar days. When exactly you take it is usually set by the leave schedule, so it is better to discuss dates with your manager in advance.
Ending the contract
A contract can end on various grounds; the most common is resigning of your own accord with written notice. On the day of dismissal the employee receives their documents and the final settlement.
See also
- 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.
- Terms
An employee's glossary: employment contract, probation, working hours, payslip, annual leave, overtime and final settlement.
Sources
- Labour Code of the Russian Federation, Articles 67, 115, 136
- Russian Federal Service for Labour and Employment (Rostrud), general guidance
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.