"This will lead to a complete collapse of the economy"

The Russians began to be massively dismissed or sent to unpaid leave. This is how the employees describe what is happening - and the employers themselves

Due to coronavirus, input in most regions of Russia, the regime of self-isolation and stopping the work of many industries in the country begins to reduce and dismissal. Many companies have no more money to pay people. And after Vladimir Putin announced all the days until April 30 with non -working with salary, more than half of the Russian businessmen are going to reduce the staff in one form or another or send people to unpaid leave. Other companies come up with more complex salaries on salaries to save business. The number of Russians that this situation can affect, according to some estimates , may exceed 15 million people. The declared measures of state support - both federal and local - is not enough business.

Medusa asked everyone who has already affected this problem - both workers and the entrepreneurs themselves - to tell where, how and how massive people are dismissed or refused to pay them a salary in a different form. In two days we received about 700 messages from businessmen and their employees from different regions of the country. The authors of the messages confirm that we are really talking about a massive problem. We contacted many authors and asked to describe in more detail what was happening.

Most often we were told about three options that employers resort to to save. Here they are.

Companies reduce or fire people - often illegal ways

Many employees wrote Medusa that after the announcement of President Vladimir Putin that employees needed to be released on a paid vacation, employers simply forced them to quit. In some cases, some employees were dismissed, and some were sent on an unpaid vacation or left on the staff, reducing a third of the salary. Among the companies that were forced to dismiss employees are mainly those related to the tourist and restaurant business, the entertainment sector, work with foreign partners and construction.

Andrei (he asked not to name the last name) worked in the Moscow printing house with a subject photographer and received 23 thousand rubles per month. Together with him, another 90 people worked in the printing house. Andrei told Medusa that after Putin’s statement, a significant part of his colleagues was sent to the “very modestly paid weekend” - the rest were fired. Andrei himself was forced to quit “on their own [desire] one day” and paid a half of the salary as compensation.

Victoria from the St. Petersburg advertising agency said that after the extension of the weekend in the country, all employees of the company in which it worked was dismissed, and the agency’s activities were “frozen” until better times. “We were all asked to quit on their own, explaining that without orders for marketing and advertising, the agency does not pay off itself and that such a situation will most likely last until the fall,” says Victoria. - All agencies depend on orders of large companies. But in these large companies-I’m talking about our customers in St. Petersburg-marketing departments are frozen, and the brand managers with whom we usually contact are sent on vacation at our own expense for an indefinite period. ” According to Victoria, she will only have enough money for life for April, so she is now urgently looking for a new job and studying in courses "to go to the new sphere of Heimdev." “But these are all dreams,” the girl immediately pulls herself. “You will have to find at least some work in any case.”

A resident of a small Russian city (she refused to inform which one) Alina told Medusa that she worked in client support in a rather large, by the standards of her city, a company that was engaged in transfers around the world. From the end of February-early March, the number of orders began to decline, customers canceled existing armor, and the driver’s partners began to refuse orders if the border crossing was required. “In mid -March, the boss called me and said that, since everything is very, very bad in the world, especially in the field of tourism, there are no new orders and, apparently, would not, she decided to dismiss half of the employees of the client support department, and I fell under dismissal,” says Alina. - But, according to her, everything will be paid to me as upon dismissal by agreement of the parties, but for now, for the work on the holidays, scenes have accumulated, and I can be listed as an employee and receive a salary. I shrugged and went to look for another job. ”

An employee of one of the largest Moscow restaurant holdings Yuri told Medusa that "in the morning on Wednesday [March 25] they wrote in Vatsap that I was reduced from Monday." According to Yuri, a week later he was informed that "they cut the salary 30% retroactively since the beginning of March." Yuri explained that since for February they should pay in mid -March, when there were no longer guests in restaurants, everyone was dismissed without a February salary. “But I understand everything, the restaurants are empty, people have nothing to pay a salary, it is usually paid from revenue,” he added.

Daria from Moscow told Medusa that she worked in an entertainment complex, which includes a restaurant, bowling and a children's center. “Since mid -March, part of the employees began to be fired - naturally, in their own [desire]. In the 20s [March], everyone else was obliged to write applications with open dates for vacation at their own expense. At the moment, the company is working only by managers on the remote, ”she said.

The employee of the Moscow Agency for Children's Holidays Olesya (the name changed) said that her companies “fired the entire staff of animators (30 people) and half of the sales department”, four employees are left in the company. Olesya says that the dismissal happened like this: “We were called to the office, and the leadership of the departments, along with the HR manager, explained that the company has difficult times, there are very few orders, and if we are not dismissed and we will not leave, the company would go bankrupt. Therefore, we need to leave and pick up the salary while the company has money to give it out. And they said that how it all ends, we will be offered to return to work in priority. ” “I have very few savings, so the loss of this work is extremely critical to me,” says Olesya. -It’s one thing if income was reduced, it can still be somehow experienced. Another thing is that the income disappeared completely. ”

Andrei told Medusa that he works in a construction of a Vologda company along with about a thousand people. “Recently, the leader called, asked to sign a dismissal application. He said that he dismisses everyone except the leadership. He advised not to ruin relations with the company, since after the epidemic he would take all back, ”says Andrei. The boss assured him that all this time he would pay him money at the labor exchange.

Workers are massively sent on unpaid leave - with dismissal as an alternative. Some instead of salary they give out products

Medusa received more than a hundred messages from people who were sent on unpaid leave. The most reports were from residents of Moscow and St. Petersburg, most often on such vacations were sent by catering officers, retail stores, people employed in the field of tourism and hotel business, as well as in the transport sector-for example, airports and airlines. In some companies, single employees were sent to the “vacation” in others who temporarily suspended work - for example, in travel agencies - the entire state up to directors. The “vacation” period is also different - from a month to six months.

Medusa talked with five Russians from different regions, whom employers have already sent on unpaid leave. They said that after Putin announced April, the non -working month, but demanded that the Russians retain their salaries, employers began to massively force employees to go into unpaid leave. Most often, as an alternative, they offered to quit at their own free will - then to receive at least unemployment benefits. In some cases, employees managed to agree on the payment of 1-2 salaries.

If people refused to quit or go on vacation without payments, they were often threatened to dismiss “under the article” - that is, for the inconsistency of the position or non -fulfillment of duties - or not to pay salaries for March. However, most employees agree to go on vacation without threats and do not even try to apply to the labor inspectorate with complaints, noted by the Medusa interviewed.

At the same time, those who nevertheless decided to contact the inspection said that the department simply did not answer their calls. “People choose a vacation simply because they don’t want to lose at least this work - because everyone understands perfectly well that when all these weekends, weeks, months will end, the number of unemployed will be catastrophic and it will be extremely difficult to find work,” Tatyana from Omsk emphasizes. About 600 people went to her car parts for the sale of auto parts.

Sometimes employers first send employees to the paid leave they accumulated, and on the remaining days until April 30 they ask to take leave without payments. Some companies began to partially pay salaries with products, two employees of different cafes told Medusa at once. “During quarantine, no one was paid to anyone, but, they must be paid tribute, they were given food for 5-10 thousand,” one of the employees explained. “Employees were given a salary for February, and the March was said not yet to wait. There they were given the remnants of products from the kitchen, everyone was under record, and said that how everything would be restored, they would collect money for this, ”adds a catering officer Artem from St. Petersburg.

Medusa also talked with five employers who plan or have already sent employees on unpaid leave. They all stated that against the backdrop of the temporary closure of many enterprises and a decrease in demand, they have no other choice but to agree with employees about dismissal of their own free will or send them on unpaid leave. The founder of the Shirshov bakery network, Georgy Shirshov, told Medusa that he had 19 bakers in five regions of Russia and one bakery in Barcelona before the coronavirus outbreak. At the moment, six bakers in Russia and one in Barcelona continue to operate in the moment, while the income of the bakers decreased by 2-10 times. “For some reason, our president decided that business has money. But this is not so. Now everyone will go “in the shadow” or “Gray Schemes”, like 5-10 years ago. Do not formalize people officially, pay in an envelope and everything else, ”Schirshov adds.

Marina (she asked not to give her last name) - the owner of one of the sports complexes in the Rostov region. It includes a pool, football fields, a hotel building and rented an area for a fitness room. Due to the coronavirus, the sports complex is closed and does not bring income. 15 people work in it - this month Marina will pay them a minimum salary, but from the next part of the people will have to be sent on unpaid leave. “I have two employees who, I think, will have to be dismissed. Because they will not be able to agree with them, and the rest understand that if the money does not enter the enterprise, then it will not be possible to pay for their work, ”she says.

Denis Monolenko, director of the Korston Hotel on the Vorobyovy Mountains, told Medusa that 300 people work in his hotel, and “downloading a hotel in the hotel for three weeks”. Monolenko said that he sent all the employees to a simple one, "because this is the only way not to use an employee at work, when there is, in fact, work." “The downtime regime is the only legal way in this situation. This mode is used when, for various reasons, an employee cannot fulfill his duties. In this case, the boss sends him to a simple one and pays two -thirds of his salaries. There are simply no other legal methods. ”

Monolenko does not receive assistance from the state due to the fact that his business is considered “more than average”, due to the fact that he has “500 people in the state, and no more than 250 is entitled to medium-sized businesses.”

Alexander, the owner of one of the Moscow retail outlets for the sale of clothing, invested his own funds so that employees could temporarily go on a paid vacation. After that, the entire staff of the company will go on unpaid vacation - until mid -March it amounted to ten people, by the end of the month - seven. People left themselves, says the entrepreneur: “Conscious people understand that to give the company's chance to survive and not lose the workplace at all, you need to try to wait. In short, an explanation [unpaid leave] is one - if there is no money in principle, then there is nothing to pay. He himself began to save, even on products ... “All champagne at the expense of the establishment” is, of course, cool, but, from my point of view, it smacks of populism, ”says Alexander.

All of his staff - about 50 people - asked to go on an unpaid vacation and the co -owner of one of the Tatarstan companies for the provision of photo services Oleg (the name was changed at his request). About 40 agreed, 10 have already quit. “Some are building conspiracy theories that we squeezed money and sit, but in fact we sold everything that was possible to pay at least for the worked months. We ourselves are sitting on debt and so on. 30 percent of 30 workers react humbly, support, do not ask for money and are even ready to support themselves. 70 percent react negatively - up to the point that they say that "we have nothing to eat, we have nothing to live on, they promised us and we are not worried about us." But this is adequate when they tell you this on TV. But they always blame those who are seen. Putin is far away, and we are an acting employer, ”Oleg emphasizes.

Entrepreneurs interviewed by Meduza emphasize that even the departure of employees on unpaid leave does not guarantee them to save the business - taking into account the lack of support from the state. “This is a shame. Not that I compare with America and Germany. I just don't really understand logic - this will lead to a complete collapse of the economy. Although, maybe Putin protects money to accelerate the revolution, I don’t know. Well, probably this business will die, another will appear. Only who will walk if all the poor will be? " - says the owner of the sports complex Marina.

The owner of the bakers Georgy Shirshov agrees with her: “The business will die. Many are already dying in fact. The recession will be long, and it will only be worse. ” But the Moscow entrepreneur Alexander is sure that the Russian business will cope: “Parents survived in the 90s. I think we are not weaker. ”

Companies sharply reduce salaries and working week - or resort to other, more complex schemes

Some enterprises were able to reduce personnel expenses without resorting to dismissal or unpaid leave. Representatives of dozens of companies turned to Medusa, where they developed complex saving schemes: from reducing the working week to deductions of bonuses and recalculating salaries.

Most reports came from those whose salary was unilaterally reduced. “I now have two cats, a mortgage and a complete misunderstanding of what to do next,” complains an employee of the Moscow travel agency Mayan (the name changed). - The authorities cut off the salary by 20% - now I received 20 thousand rubles in the hands, then it will be worse. I break the old sofa, looking for my father’s rarities, selling stamps, books-all that can bring money right now. My husband and I have already looked for [vacancies] both movers and sellers - nowhere are needed. For one vacancy, 500 people are already applying for 500 people. ”

Some enterprises are also on the termination of premium payments. “80% of the engineering team is now on a remote control with a salary and without bonuses,” says an employee of the Yekaterinburg company - an electronics developer for George railway (the name changed). - They also stopped the payment of compensation, and deductions were suspended in terms of loans. The workshops have so far stopped. Nobody is conducting disputes about the legality of this. Not fired - and thanks for that. "

Many companies had to decide in March to whom to save the salary, and whom they are ready to release. “We sent administrators on an unpaid vacation, and pay the coaches. A small provincial city: if the coach decides to leave, then this is at the end, we will not find him later, - Anna, the co -owner of the sports complex in the south of Russia, shares it. - In the coming months, all our savings will go on salaries - 450 thousand, which we could invest. It sometimes seems to me that business in the regions is almost charity. ”

Some entrepreneurs are not at all afraid to lose employees due to a reduction in salaries. “Where will you go now? Starring for a month, and then look for exactly the same new work? — переспрашивает владелец частного детского сада Валерий Кишин, который урезал зарплаты своим московским сотрудникам вполовину: «Было 40 тысяч рублей — теперь 20. Но ближайшие месяцы нас все равно, скорее всего, убьют: у меня нет финансовой подушки в полмиллиона, чтобы выплачивать и аренду, и полную зарплату воспитателям и повару. А клиенты уехали из города пережидать апокалипсис».

Как и многие другие малые предприятия, Кишин не попадает ни под какие программы господдержки. «Не рядом даже. А кредит меня не интересует: мне легче закрыться, чем выплачивать кредит. Всех уволить, уйти самому — и вернуться ближе к сентябрю», — говорит он. В такой же ситуации оказались индивидуальные предприниматели в регионах. «Под закон о «кредитных каникулах» я не попадаю — они только для тех, кто, видимо, на ларек с мороженым брал кредит, у меня сумма [кредита], конечно, была больше, — говорит основатель школы робототехники в одном из городов-миллионников. — Постараюсь взять кредит, чтобы выдать зарплату за апрель, но, скорее всего, кредит не дадут».

Другой популярный у работодателей способ сэкономить в эпидемию — сокращение рабочей недели. «Заставили весь завод писать согласие на трехдневную рабочую неделю с первого июня и до осени, лишили премии», — поделился с «Медузой» сотрудник предприятия в Самаре, пожелавший остаться анонимным. «Нас перевели на четырехдневку с сокращением зарплаты на 20%, — рассказывает Дарья, сотрудница крупной логистической компании. — Заявления мы написали на три месяца, а дальше будет видно. Уж лучше так, чем кого-то будут сокращать. Лично у меня теперь выходит 32 тысячи рублей. И я стараюсь не паниковать».

Некоторые работодатели, объявляя сокращение рабочей недели, по факту сохраняют пятидневку, рассказала «Медузе» сотрудница крупной федеральной компании Елена: «Всем объявили, что четырехдневная рабочая неделя не означает, что работы будет меньше, поэтому работать всех попросили пять дней в неделю».

Многие работодатели прибегают к сложному пересчету зарплаты: привязывают ее, например, к плану продаж. «Раньше зарабатывали 40 тысяч рублей плюс 4% от каждой сделки, в среднем зарплата выходила 100–150 тысяч в месяц, — рассказывает сотрудник производства по промышленной очистке воды Евгений (имя изменено). — А сейчас руководство решило сменить мотивацию — теперь у нас процентная выплата оклада в зависимости от выполненного плана. Выполнил план на 78%? Получил 78% оклада. Выполнил на 100% и выше — получил 100% оклада».

Занятость своих сотрудников с почасовым окладом стал ограничивать даже российский «Макдоналдс». «После объявления Путина о нерабочем апреле компания сразу взялась за наши трудовые договоры и начала их шерстить как следует — в итоге вышел приказ о простое, — рассказывает менеджер одного из заведений сети Мария (имя изменено). — Нашему директору звонили и говорили: «Расчищай расписание работников, чтобы часов там не было». У нас в трудовом договоре говорится, что компания нам обязана предоставить минимум 20 рабочих часов в месяц — за это зацепились: сейчас составляют расписание всего с пятью рабочими часами в неделю, от которых нам будут платить только две трети ставки. Вот у меня [ставка] 270 рублей в час — если я работаю всего 20 часов в месяц, то я за них три тысячи рублей получу, грубо говоря. Все мы в шоке».

«Медуза» ознакомились с «приказом о простое» от 31 марта, в котором говорится о приостановке деятельности предприятий «Макдоналдса», а также с трудовым договором одного из сотрудников сети ресторанов. «Несмотря на снижение потребительской активности, мы сохраняем все рабочие места и предлагаем сотрудникам тех предприятий, которые вынужденно находятся в простое из-за закрытия ТЦ, несколько возможностей, — пояснили в пресс-службе компании. — Сотрудники могут перейти на работу в другое предприятие в своем городе, устроиться временно на работу к нашим партнерам из ретейла, с которыми мы об этом заключили соглашения, также на этот период можно взять ежегодный оплачиваемый отпуск».

PS

Связались с «Медузой» и несколько компаний, которым удалось быстро перепрофилироваться, чтобы сохранить зарплаты своим сотрудникам. «За неделю до всей этой вакханалии с карантином мы поняли, что надо срочно покупать маленький швейный цех с оборудованием, — рассказывает Дарья Голубчина, PR-директор магазина одежды и салона красоты, открытых в Воронеже по франшизе. — Из-за эпидемии сотрудники, которые работают в продажах, неделю оставались с голым окладом, потому что большая часть зарплаты складывается из процентов от продаж. Но за эту же неделю мы научились шить защитные маски, на которые в регионе огромный спрос. Сейчас все наши сотрудники розницы работают в этом направлении».

Павел Мерзликин, Ирина Кравцова, Лилия Яппарова, Петр Лохов