Overview of Work Hours in Russia during 2023
In 2023, a large share of Russians reported regular overtime. A notable 88 percent described having to stay late or work weekends, with around 63 percent confirming this as a constant pattern across the year. This pattern was highlighted in a study led by Sherry and Perfluence and subsequently reviewed by socialbites.ca. The data suggests overtime is a prevailing reality for many workers, shaping their weekly routines and perceptions of job security.
Looking at weekly hours, the study found that a majority of Russians were clocking at least 40 hours per week, with 40 percent meeting or exceeding this threshold. About 15 percent worked more than 40 hours, indicating a tier of workers experiencing extended schedules beyond the standard full week.
Another view from the data shows a sizeable segment working far fewer hours. Around 25 percent reported weeks under 20 hours, roughly four hours per day. Among those who reported a six-hour daily schedule, equal to 30 hours per week, another 15 percent fell into this category. The smallest group comprised those working one to two hours per day, representing about five percent of respondents.
Age and gender patterns emerged as well. Approximately 55 percent of those working 40 hours or more were aged 35 or older, with women making up about 65 percent of this group. Among workers whose daily hours were capped at four to six hours, the majority were aged 18 to 25, indicating a younger cohort in shorter-hour roles.
When asked about late arrivals or weekend work in 2023, the same 88 percent figure recurred. Of these, about 63 percent confirmed this occurred regularly throughout the year, while around 12 percent disagreed or reported no such experience. These responses underscore a broad tolerance for irregular schedules among a substantial portion of the workforce.
Job satisfaction and reasons for staying in a role were also explored. Only 15 percent of respondents who expressed job love felt completely satisfied with their current position. A combined 72 percent indicated conditional reasons for staying: 27 percent hoped for higher earnings, 25 percent worked primarily for monetary reasons, and 20 percent contemplated changing jobs or even fields altogether. This paints a nuanced picture where fulfillment competes with the pull of higher pay or new opportunities.
Income aspirations were another key focus. When surveyed about desired monthly earnings, more than half of respondents aimed for between 250,000 and 1,000,000 rubles. Specifically, 34 percent hoped for around 250,000 rubles, and 29 percent sought closer to one million rubles per month. A further 19 percent preferred salaries in the range of 100,000 to 250,000 rubles, while 12 percent targeted earnings above one million rubles monthly. These figures reveal a broad spectrum of income ambitions across the workforce.
Opinions on ideal weekly work time followed a similar pattern. Just over half of respondents supported a four-hour workday, with 54 percent indicating this preference. About 19 percent favored a six-hour day, and 15 percent preferred not to work at all. Only seven percent endorsed the traditional eight-hour workday, highlighting a shift in attitudes toward shorter daily hours among a sizeable portion of the population.
On a lighter note, a stray line in the dataset notes a fragment mentioning a doctor and a question about restoring normal sleep patterns after vacation. This snippet hints at broader concerns about rest and balance that accompany varied work schedules across the population.
Note on methodology: The figures above emerge from a cross-sectional study using self-reported responses, analyzed for trends in overtime, weekly hours, age and gender distributions, and income expectations. It is important to view these insights as reflective of reported experiences in 2023 and subject to changes driven by labor market dynamics, policy shifts, and economic conditions. Citations: Sherry and Perfluence study; review by socialbites.ca.