A Saint Petersburg deputy technical director has been awarded 1.5 million rubles after proving his dismissal for absenteeism was unlawful, local media reported.
The 43-year-old executive was fired by his employer in December 2024 after being accused of taking unexcused leave from work.
However, the former manager challenged the decision in court and demonstrated that his absence had been pre-approved by his immediate supervisor, presenting an audio recording of the conversation as evidence. Under Russian labor regulations, an unexcused absence of more than four consecutive hours can be grounds for termination, but employees are permitted to submit electronic and audio evidence to substantiate their claims.
The court ruled in favor of the employee, declaring the termination illegal and ordering the business to pay 1.5 million rubles to cover a full year of lost wages alongside compensation for moral damages.
Enforcement through vehicle restrictions
According to local news outlet 78.ru, which cited the regional management of the Federal Service of Judicial Bailiffs, the firm did not immediately provide the funds following the judgment.
The former employee secured the payout only after judicial bailiffs imposed a restriction on registration actions against the company's motor vehicles. Such legal restrictions prevent a business from selling, transferring, or registering its vehicles until outstanding financial obligations ordered by a tribunal are satisfied.
The Federal Service of Judicial Bailiffs is the state agency responsible for enforcing court rulings across Russia. In labor disputes, Russian courts frequently award back pay and moral compensation when employers fail to adhere strictly to formal dismissal procedures. Saint Petersburg, located in north-western Russia, is the country's second-largest city and a principal commercial center.
Separate ruling on teacher dismissal
In a separate labor decision reported by Russian media, the Moscow City Court upheld a lower court ruling concerning the termination of an educator.
The appellate court sustained a judgment by the Cheryomushkinsky District Court, which found that the firing of schoolteacher Galina Bologova was lawful following allegations of systematic insults and psychological abuse directed at students. The Cheryomushkinsky court serves as a district tribunal in southern Moscow, while the Moscow City Court handles appeals for the capital region.
