August 13, 2026

Save Money, Work Less


Save Money, Work Less
I hate Tuesdays... The Russian Life files. 

Employees of one district in the Irkutsk region have adopted a four-day workweek as a temporary financial fix, not the progressive experiment a shortened week usually signifies.

​For the full the month of August, district administration employees of the Zalari District in Russia’s Irkutsk Region will only work from Tuesday to Friday. Monday is now designated as a non-working day, giving workers a three-day weekend.

District officials said that the measure is intended to optimize the budget amid a period of uncertain finances. Authorities are aware that limited hours broadcasts a dire need for budget balancing — and emphasize that the schedule is only temporary.

Despite the shortened schedule, the district administration said it will provide all standard services to its residents without interruption.  

The Zalari District is not alone in electing a four-day workweek. Russia’s largest truck manufacturer, KAMAZ, has nearly 40,000 employees and has faced a severe downturn in sales. As a result, most divisions started a four-day workweek in June.

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