More than a third of Russian companies forgo annual bonuses in 2026
In total, 46.9% of Russian companies do not plan to pay employees end-of-year bonuses, with 36.2% forgoing bonuses only in 2026, despite having paid them a year earlier. The findings come from a survey of 1,076 companies across Russia conducted by Aktion Bukhgalteriya, Forbes Russia reported.
Over one-third of Russian companies are expected to skip paying annual bonuses in 2026, according to a survey by Aktion Bukhgalteriya. Thirty-six percent of companies plan to withhold bonuses specifically for the upcoming year. The main reason cited by 57% of respondents was a decline in financial results. Others pointed to increased taxes and insurance contributions.
Experts attribute this trend to rising business costs, with Russia's corporate tax increasing to 25% in 2025 and value-added tax rising to 22% in 2026. Weak demand and high interest rates have also made loans expensive, while rising production costs are squeezing profits. Small businesses, where decisions often hinge on a single individual and current revenue, will be hit the hardest.
Large businesses with reserves and established bonus programs are more likely to continue paying bonuses. However, some may shift to quarterly rewards, additional training, or non-monetary incentives to manage cash flow.
Written by urgent.news from Meduza (English)'s reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
