Leave Policies in Greece

Mandatory Leave Policies in Greece

The annual leave entitlement in Greece is 20 days for a full-time worker who has completed one year of service. If the employee works a five-day week, they are entitled to 20 working days, whereas those on a six-day schedule receive 24 working days. These leave days do not include public holidays, which are granted separately.

Public Holidays in Greece

The employees in Greece obtain 14 public holidays per year. Greece has the following national holidays:

Types of Leave in Greece

Sick Leave

Employees who provide a valid medical certificate within 48 hours of falling ill receive paid sick leave, with the duration determined by their length of employment:

• 1st year of service: Half pay for first three days followed by 15 days with full pay
• 1-4 years of service: 1 month paid sick leave
• 4-10 years of service: 3 months paid sick leave
• 10-15 years of service: 4 months paid sick leave
• More than 15 years: 6 months paid sick leave

Employers cover up to one month of sick leave, after which the state social insurance scheme (EFKA) may step in. A medical certificate is required for absences beyond three days.

Paid Time Off

In Greece, the annual leave entitlement is determined by the following duration of employment for those working a 5-day schedule:

• 1st year of service: Granted proportionate holiday time calculated as 20 working days for the year, rounded up for shorter periods.
• 2nd year of service: Allocated holiday time of 21 working days, increased by one working day.
• 3rd year of service: Allotted holiday time of 22 working days, with the flexibility to take the entire duration at any time of the year, including January 1.
• Over 12 years: Entitled to 25 working days of holiday time, and upon completing 25 years of service, additional paid holiday is provided, resulting in a total of 26 working days of paid holiday.

Leave accrues annually and must be used within the calendar year. Unused leave does not typically roll over unless specified in the employment contract.

Maternity, Paternity, and Parental Leave

Maternity leave is 17 weeks, with no work allowed 56 days before the due date and 63 days after childbirth. The first month is fully paid by the employer, and from the second month, both the employer and EFKA contribute 50%, including a child benefit. Uninsured employees get a standard maternity benefit of 220.10 EUR.

Fathers are entitled to 14 days of paid paternity leave, to be taken around the childbirth. This leave can start two days before the expected due date, with the remaining days taken within 30 days of the birth or afterward. It is mandatory to provide paternity leave, and it is not linked to the employee's seniority or marital/family status.

After one year of service, employees are eligible for up to four months of parental leave, to be taken continuously or intermittently until the child turns eight. Childcare leave for 30 months after birth or adoption allows for a reduction of one paid working hour per day for the entire period or a reduction of two hours per day for the first 12 months.

Family and Emergency Leave

Employees may take bereavement leave (usually 2-3 days) and time off for family emergencies, which may be unpaid or compensated based on employer policies.

Marriage Leave

Employees receive up to five paid days off for their wedding.

Caretaker Leave

Employees with six months of tenure are entitled to five days of paid leave to care for a relative or someone residing in their household.

School Leave

Parents, whether full-time or part-time employees, can take up to four working days off per year for each child attending school without any salary deductions, with their employer's approval.

Special Leave Types

Employees may take unpaid leave for study, sabbaticals, or career breaks, depending on their employer's policies and agreements.

Best Practices for Implementing Leave Policies in Greece

 
• Ensure compliance with Greek labor laws regarding annual leave, sick leave, and parental leave.
 
• Keep records of employee leave entitlements and usage to maintain transparency.
 
• Communicate leave policies clearly in employment contracts.
 
• Provide flexibility for emergency leave and additional leave types as part of an employee benefits program.

Providing Leave Benefits in Greece With an EOR

A competitive compensation package is critical to attract and retain the best talent, but every country different regulations, customs and expectations. That’s the advantage of using a trusted Employer of Record like Playroll to manage benefits for your global team. They can:

• ‍Handle the benefits admin: Playroll ensures compliant contracts with built-in statutory checks. Add region-specific premium benefits, while we handle administration and employee claims. Manage leave, expenses, and more – all in one easy dashboard.
• ‍Run global payroll: An EOR will act as your payroll provider, paying your employees on your behalf in the local currency. The company will also have in-depth knowledge of local tax codes, regulatory practices, and everything else that goes into managing global payroll.
• ‍Alleviate compliance concerns: Different countries each have their own federal and local laws governing employee payments. An EOR helps ensure that you are compliant with the unique set of laws for any country in which your company operates. This is extremely important since a compliance slip-up can result in heavy fines or even a lawsuit.