in the summer season, Russians took record-breaking vacations at their own expense – Kommersant

The number of employees of large and medium-sized organizations who took leave at their own expense in July-September 2023 amounted to 3.44 million people, which is 4% more than the same period in 2022. This follows from a study by the FinExpertiza consulting network, conducted on the basis of Rosstat data. Experts note that the figure of 3.44 million people is a record since 2013.

The FinExpertiza study states that in the third quarter the number of people taking personal leave grew the most in the construction sector (+14%), scientific and technical activities (+7%), healthcare and education (+6%). FinExpertiza notes that the number of people working less than 40 hours a week at the initiative of the employer (or by agreement of the parties) in the third quarter was estimated at 1 million people, which is 50 thousand less than in 2022.

FinExpertiza experts believe that the increase in the number of unpaid leaves is associated with the strengthening of the problem of hidden unemployment, since it is more profitable for the employer to force workers to take unpaid leave than to pay for regular leave. At the same time, experts do not rule out that taking leave at their own expense could be an attempt by employees to compensate with time off for an increase in overtime work caused by a shortage of personnel. According to Rosstat, the unemployment rate in the summer was 3%; in October it dropped to a historical low of 2.9%.