Russian Parental Leave Allows Relatives, Caps Payments

The proportion of men receiving parental leave benefits in Russia has increased from approximately 2% to 12.5%, according to Rosstat data. This figure has grown by 6 to 9 times in absolute terms over the last five years. Experts noted that men with higher income levels are the most frequent participants in this trend. There has been an increase in the number of men taking parental leave in Russia. This applies even if the individual returns to work full-time. In Russia, individuals on maternity leave retain their jobs and receive 40% of their salary for 1.5 years, with a cap of 83,000 rubles per month; this benefit can also apply to grandparents. Olga Petrova, managing partner of Visiv Consult HR agency, stated that a wave of mass layoffs across various positions and companies, including in production, could lead to an increase in fathers claiming these benefits. Russia's parental leave policy permits relatives, including grandparents, to take leave for child care. Olga Petrova, managing partner of Visavi Consult, indicated that an increase in layoffs might lead to more fathers utilizing this benefit.