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Working on weekends during a business trip is often unpleasant but necessary. In many companies, operations continue on Saturdays and Sundays, as well as on January 1, May 9, and other official holidays observed as non-working days. If your business trip abroad falls on one of these dates, be sure to secure your business trip visa in advance. But most importantly, make sure all documents are properly prepared and that you provide the required compensation. We explain all the details of arranging business trips on holidays, and if you’re interested in the specifics of document handling for field-based work, read our additional article.
Option to Decline
An employer must obtain an employee’s consent to work on a day off – they do not have the right to force someone to travel to another city. When a business trip falls on such a day, it is necessary to issue an order sending the employee on the trip and an order confirming the employee’s consent to work on the day off. It is even acceptable to create one document that includes both orders. Only after that should you book your business trip flights.
Compensation
For every hour worked on holidays and weekends, the employee receives additional pay. This supplement is provided on top of the standard wage for those days. The amount of compensation for a business trip on a day off depends on the payment method: for piecework, it must be no less than the piece rate, and for hourly work, no less than the hourly rate. Alternatively, the employee may opt to take a day off in lieu of the additional pay, and the employer cannot prevent this. To save both time and money when booking everything needed for a business trip, use the corporate travel service TravelHub.
Are Per Diems Accrued for Working on Weekends During a Business Trip?
For every 24 hours spent on a business trip—be it on weekdays or weekends—the employee is entitled to a per diem that is no lower than the government-mandated minimum. Also, don’t forget about reimbursements – the employer is required to cover expenses for transportation and lodging (business trip transfers are included in this category), and may also reimburse other expenses as agreed upon by the supervisor. This issue should be discussed prior to departure to avoid any unpleasant surprises later.
To receive these reimbursements, the employee must submit an expense report with supporting documents (receipts, tickets, invoices) upon returning from the business trip—pay special attention to accommodations during an overseas assignment. Compensation is paid out based on these documents. Note the special tax treatment for per diems during a business trip – they are exempt from personal income tax.
