Every fourth Ukrainian employee does not know what to do during an air raid alert: OLX Work survey data

Ukrainian employees are increasingly facing a lack of clear instructions in the event of an air raid alert at their workplaces. According to a study by OLX Work, reported by RBC-Ukraine, in 25% of cases employers do not have unified rules defining staff actions during alerts of various levels. In some companies, work is completely stopped and employees are directed to a shelter, in others the decision is left to the discretion of the employee or management, and in others work continues on site without any changes. Such fragmentation of approaches creates uncertainty and increases anxiety levels among the employed.

Safety as a factor in choosing an employer

Safety conditions when choosing a place of work have become a significant criterion for the majority of respondents. 33% of respondents called them rather important, and another 28% very important. At the same time, 19% of study participants considered this factor rather or completely unimportant, and 20% found it difficult to give a definitive answer. Thus, more than half of workers (61%) directly or indirectly indicate that the presence of a well-thought-out protection system against air threats influences their employment decision.

The problem of shelter availability

A significant portion of respondents faced a practical problem: there is no shelter near the workplace. 26% of respondents confirmed that there is no protective structure nearby. Another 12% do not know where the nearest shelter is located, and 12% noted that a shelter formally exists, but it is unfit for people to stay in. Only 24% have access to a shelter directly in the building where they work, and 18% in a neighboring building or at a distance of up to five minutes on foot. At the same time, for 9% of participants, the walk to the shelter takes more than five minutes, which creates additional risks under conditions of limited evacuation time.

What happens during an alert: five scenarios

The study recorded five main scenarios of employer behavior when an air raid alert is announced. In 20% of companies, work is completely stopped, and all employees are required to go to a shelter. In 19% of cases, moving to a shelter is a recommendation, and the final decision remains with the employee. In another 10% of cases, if possible, work continues directly in the shelter. However, 18% of respondents reported that during the alert, work continues at workstations without any changes. In 8% of cases, the procedure depends on the specific situation and management decision. It is this diversity of practices that highlights the absence of an industry-wide response standard.

Payment for time in the shelter: what the numbers say

The issue of remuneration for time spent in a shelter remains ambiguous. In 51% of cases, this time is counted as a regular working day. However, in 35% of companies, this issue was not discussed with the employer at all. Another 13% of respondents indicated that time tracking depends on the situation or the manager's decision. Only 1% of respondents reported that after the alert ends, they are required to make up for the time spent in the shelter. The lack of a unified practice means that in a significant part of collectives, the issue of payment in emergency conditions remains a "gray zone".

Legal context and deadline until December 4, 2026

The procedure for responding to air threats in Ukraine is determined by Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 1092. At the red danger level, enterprises are required to completely stop work, and employees and visitors must move to a safe place. At the yellow threat level, enterprises can operate in normal mode provided they comply with established safety requirements; this applies to businesses that have a protective structure, a permanent or temporary shelter, or are located in dual-use facilities. For enterprises that do not have such conditions, a transition period is provided, which expires on December 4, 2026. By this date, companies are required to prepare the necessary solutions to ensure the safety of employees and visitors.

Expert commentary

Maria Abdullina, head of OLX Work, explains that the lack of clear rules does not necessarily indicate that the employer neglects staff safety. According to her, the reason may be a misunderstanding of the very need for such rules or a lack of knowledge on how to develop them taking into account the specifics of a particular company. Abdullina recommends that employers take into account the experience of other enterprises and involve specialized experts to determine a procedure that meets safety requirements. Among survey participants, 53% have a stationary workplace, 9% work in a hybrid format, 17% remotely, and 13% constantly move within their labor duties, which further complicates the unification of protocols.