Documents
Documents and procedures
Employment rests on paperwork, even if the work itself moved to messaging apps and online systems long ago. Your contract, orders, payslips and written requests are what you rely on when you need to prove your terms of work, your pay or your leaving date. Below are the documents worth keeping to hand and what to look for in them.
A document that you hold, not just the HR department, is the best answer to the question of what you agreed.
This section summarises the general rules of the Russian Labour Code and common paperwork practice. Document forms vary between employers, so focus on the content rather than the look of the form. Rules differ in other countries: check your own law or ask a local adviser.
Documents that matter to an employee
| Document | Why | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Employment contract | Confirms that you are employed and sets out the main terms of your work | Job title, place of work, start date, pay, working hours, probation clause, signatures of both sides |
| Hiring order | Records the employer's decision to hire you on the basis of the signed contract | Whether the job title, date and terms match what is written in the contract |
| Payslip | Shows how the payment for the period was made up | Earnings, deductions, holiday pay and overtime pay; ask in writing about any lines you do not understand |
| Employee's written request | Records your request: for leave, a transfer or dismissal | The date, the wording of the request and the note of receipt on your copy |
| Records of employment | Show your work history: hiring, transfers, dismissal | That entries and dates are correct; if anything is wrong, ask your employer to correct it |
A written contract
An employment contract is made in writing. If an employee has actually been admitted to work but the contract has not yet been signed, the employer must put it in writing within three working days of admission to work (Article 67 of the Russian Labour Code).
In practice, "we'll sort out the paperwork later" cannot stretch into weeks. If the deadline has passed and there is still no contract, politely remind your employer in writing, by work email or a written request. That way you keep proof that you raised the issue.
When you receive the contract, read all of it before signing. Check whether the terms match what was discussed at the interview and whether probation is stated in the text, if it was mentioned.
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.
- Examples
Hypothetical examples: working without a contract, probation extended verbally, infrequent pay, moved leave, an unpaid final settlement, a service contract instead.
- 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, 136, 140
- 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.