Russia Considers Shielding Employees from Weather-Related Penalties
Disciplinary penalties for workers who are late because of bad weather should not be applied in Russia. A proposal to this effect was put forward by State Duma deputy Ivan Sukharev in a letter to the head of the Ministry of Labor, Anton Kotyakov, as reported by RT. (Source: RT)
The deputy reminded that under current Labor Law, employers may impose disciplinary sanctions, such as reprimands, on employees who arrive late without a justified reason. If an employee incurs two such penalties within a year, the employer may terminate the employment relationship. This mechanism has raised concerns about fairness when weather conditions disrupt normal commuting patterns. (Source: RT)
Sukharev noted that the existing labor legislation does not establish criteria to determine a worker’s degree of fault for lateness caused by force majeure or severe weather. It also does not specify which weather scenarios should be recognized as a valid excuse for tardiness. (Source: RT)
In response, the deputy urged the consideration of including in regulatory acts a clause that would prohibit disciplinary penalties for lateness caused by extreme weather that substantially alters public transport schedules. He also suggested guidelines from entities such as the Ministry of Emergency Situations or municipal transport authorities to clarify valid circumstances and support verification, including how explanatory notes might be checked for accuracy. (Source: RT)
Honored Lawyer of Russia Ivan Solovyov previously argued that an employer initiating disciplinary action against an employee late due to bad weather could face an appeal if the worker was not at fault. He even advised that workers might document their commute, potentially recording their journey from home to work to demonstrate innocence. He suggested that such video recordings could be presented in court should the administration refuse to overturn a disciplinary decision. (Source: RT)
In related discussions, some observers have questioned why multitasking at work can be problematic in other contexts, underscoring the broader debate about fairness, productivity, and lawful behavior in the workplace. (Source: RT)