Russian Government Approves 2026 Public Holidays

Antonov acknowledged the physical benefits for employees but stated that “for a factory, for a business, it is more profitable to have fewer days off in a month.” He explained that fewer working days directly reduce output – in their case, fewer bulldozers produced – leading to lower profit margins while overhead costs remain constant. He concluded that businesses must adapt to these national conditions.

Selezneva expressed strong disapproval, particularly from the perspective of managing large technical centers. She pointed out that employees and car owners alike cease earning during this period, often prioritizing rest over essential vehicle maintenance. “Holidays, unfortunately, drain money from budgets,” she noted, adding that “people go on a spree, and it`s very difficult to get such an employee back afterwards. As a business, we are categorically against it.”

Kvinikadze confirmed that his company, which sells products for mothers and children, consistently experiences a drop in revenue during holidays. Consumers tend to spend money on food, travel, or entertainment rather than shopping for their category. He also dismissed the idea of calling in extra staff, explaining that it disrupts business processes and salary structures, and is not a viable solution for the entire company.

Lapshin offered a mixed perspective. Personally, he appreciates the extended New Year break as it allows him to take a 14-15 day vacation, which he cannot typically afford during other seasons. However, from a business standpoint, he finds the 11 non-working days stressful, observing that staff become too relaxed and take several more days to fully recover afterwards. Their production also halts, incurring significant costs for the company, often requiring overtime pay later. While acknowledging that consumer spending might boost the economy in some areas, the downtime is expensive for his company.