Why in the USSR, workers did not break vacation into two weeks, but took it entirely

  • Feb 06, 2022
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Why in the USSR, workers did not break vacation into two weeks, but took it entirely

The situation when a person works for a whole year without a vacation is now familiar to us firsthand. In Soviet times, such a situation was generally unimaginable. All holidays were paid, and this was one of the highest social achievements. The Soviet Union was one of the first states to introduce standardized working hours and paid leave at the level of laws. During the entire existence of the USSR, the duration of the vacation was changed several times. But immediately after the war, it lasted a month, and in some cases even longer.

1. When did such a phenomenon as vacation appear in our country

For people working in various enterprises, before 1917. there were no holidays Photo: zotych7.livejournal.com
For people working in various enterprises, before 1917. there were no holidays / Photo: zotych7.livejournal.com
For people working in various enterprises, before 1917. there were no holidays / Photo: zotych7.livejournal.com

For people working in various enterprises, before 1917. there were no holidays. If a person wanted to rest or he needed days, he could coordinate this issue with his immediate superiors, but this time was not included in the payment. In addition, the length of the working day was ten, not eight hours, and there was only one day off - on Sunday. When the revolution took place, a new concept was immediately introduced in the country - every working person had the right to leave, and besides, it was also paid.

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Even during the war, money was still allocated for paid vacation / Photo: tunnel.ru
Even during the war, money was still allocated for paid vacation / Photo: tunnel.ru

Holidays were canceled only once in the country - for the period of the Second World War. But even in this difficult time for the country, money for paid vacation was still allocated. True, people did not have the opportunity to get them. Funds were credited to a separate deposit, and after the end of the war, the worker got access to it.

2. How many vacation days did a Soviet citizen have

Holidays in the USSR. / Photo: pvsm.ru
Holidays in the USSR. / Photo: pvsm.ru

According to Soviet law, until 1967 all working people had twelve days of vacation, which was paid, and plus days to it, the number of which depended directly on working conditions. Starting this year, the number of vacation days was increased to fifteen, and additional days were added to them. The total number of such days, together with vacation (meaning workers), could reach 36 - it all depended on the length of service, the place where the person worked, harmfulness.

Employees of educational and scientific institutions had a vacation of 24-28 days / Photo: ru.rbth.com
Employees of educational and scientific institutions had a vacation of 24-28 days / Photo: ru.rbth.com

Employees of educational and scientific institutions had a vacation of 24-28 days. Those who worked in the conditions of the Far North had eighteen more days in addition. If a person worked in the forest industry, then he was supposed to have an additional six days. Despite the fact that the law did not prescribe the norm for dividing the leave, in most cases it was provided to the person in its entirety.

Many people went to sanatoriums during their holidays, the course of treatment was three weeks plus the road / Photo: amarok-man.livejournal.com
Many people went to sanatoriums during their holidays, the course of treatment was three weeks plus the road / Photo: amarok-man.livejournal.com

Many people went to sanatoriums during their holidays. The course of treatment was three weeks plus the road. As a result, it turns out that breaking the vacation into two parts simply did not make any sense. Of course, the most preferable was a vacation in the summer. In some industries, people went on vacation with the whole shift. The “velvet season” was also in demand. There was no special influx of vacationers on the beaches, and the weather was warm, so the rest was comfortable and complete.

Going on vacation, a person was paid wages for the previous month, for the days worked in the current month, vacation pay, in the amount equal to his salary, overtime, etc. / Photo: eda-x.ru
Going on vacation, a person was paid wages for the previous month, for the days worked in the current month, vacation pay, in the amount equal to his salary, overtime, etc. / Photo: eda-x.ru

The settlement system of "vacation pay" in Soviet times was also quite interesting. Going on vacation, a person was paid wages for the previous month, for the days worked in the current month, holiday pay (they were calculated according to a special formula) in the amount equal to his salary, overtime and other.

At the end of the existence of the USSR, in 1991. Officially, the vacation consisted of 24 days (working), and in 2002 - in accordance with the norms of the European Social Charter, 28 days, but calendar days.

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3. What if you don't take a vacation?

Naturally, the vacation did not always coincide with the capabilities of people and had to be negotiated to be rescheduled / Photo: fishki.net
Naturally, the vacation did not always coincide with the capabilities of people and had to be negotiated to be rescheduled / Photo: fishki.net

In the USSR, there was one peculiarity - a vacation schedule for all employees for the next year was drawn up. It was planned for the end of this year. Naturally, the vacation did not always coincide with the possibilities of people and had to be negotiated to be rescheduled. If the transfer did not work out, it was possible to take compensation in cash instead of a vacation. This phenomenon was not typical for all places of work and was quite rare in practice.

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4. How are things nowadays

As for the modern holiday system, many points were borrowed from the legislation of the Soviet Union / Photo: 100dorog.ru
As for the modern holiday system, many points were borrowed from the legislation of the Soviet Union / Photo: 100dorog.ru

As for the holiday system, many points were borrowed from the legislation of the Soviet Union. Enterprises still plan vacations for next year and draw up appropriate schedules, but with the transfer everything is much simpler. An employee has 28 calendar days of basic leave and additional days. Among the differences is the ability to break the vacation into parts, one of which is from 2 weeks or more. Now, if a person has not spent the whole vacation, then the remaining days are transferred to the next year. When a person leaves, he receives monetary compensation for his unused vacation.

It will be no less interesting to recall the legends of the USSR:
why did the Japanese buy sledgehammers and broken glass from us.
A source:
https://novate.ru/blogs/141021/60853/