Leave policy in Greece
Understand leave laws in Greece, including annual, sick, and maternity leave, public holidays, and key entitlements for employer compliance.
To manage a workforce in Greece, employers should have a thorough understanding of the country’s legal framework for employee leave.
From annual leave to family-related and statutory absences, employers are expected to follow a predefined set of rules that shape how leaves are granted and managed.
For companies expanding into Greece or hiring employees based there, aligning internal policies with local legal requirements is crucial to mitigate compliance risks and maintain seamless operations.
This article explores the key aspects of leave policy in Greece and what employers need to know to stay compliant.
It also highlights how partnering with a workforce management solution like Payoneer Workforce Management can support organizations in navigating local regulations better.
Vacation and annual leave in Greece
Employees are entitled to an annual paid time off in Greece. The number of annual leaves in Greece that employees are entitled to depends on the tenure for which they have been serving.
| Tenure of service | Number of annual leaves |
|---|---|
| 1st year of employment | 20 annual leaves if an employee works 5 days a week, and 24 annual leaves if an employee works 6 days a week. |
| 2nd year of employment and henceforth | 22 annual leaves if an employee works 5 days a week, and 26 annual leaves if an employee works 6 days a week. |
| 10 years of employment under the same employer or 12 years of employment under different employers | 25 annual leaves if an employee works 5 days a week, and 30 annual leaves if an employee works 6 days a week |
| 25 years of employment | 26 annual leaves if an employee works 5 days a week, and 31 annual leaves if an employee works 6 days a week |
Public holidays
There are 14 main public holidays in Greece on which all workplaces remain closed.
- New Year’s Day
- Epiphany
- Orthodox Ash Monday
- Independence Day
- Orthodox Good Friday
- Orthodox Easter Sunday
- Orthodox Easter Monday
- Labor Day
- Orthodox Whit Sunday
- Orthodox Whit Monday
- Assumption Day
- Ochi Day
- Christmas Day
- Second day of Christmas
Sick leave in Greece
Employees in Greece are entitled to paid sick leave. The compensation for the period of absence is determined by the length of the employee’s service.
The provisions for sick leave in Greece are as follows:
| Tenure of service | Sick leave duration |
|---|---|
| 1-4 years of service | Paid sick leave for 1 month |
| 4-10 years of service | Paid sick leave for 3 months |
| 10-15 years of service | Paid sick leave for 4 months |
| More than 15 years of service | Paid sick leave for 6 months |
Maternity leave in Greece
Female employees in Greece are entitled to leave on account of childbirth. The total duration of this leave is 119 days. The first 56 days of the leave are to be taken before childbirth, and the remaining 63 days are to be taken after the child is born. During this period, the allowance is paid by e-EFKA.
Special maternity leave
There is a provision for special maternity leave in Greece. Working mothers can request a special leave of up to 9 months from the Public Employment Service (DYPA) to raise their children. It is funded by OAED.
To avail of this leave, the employee must remain insured with e-EFKA.
An employer grants this leave after the expiry of:
- Maternity leave
- Leave equal in duration to the reduced working hours for childcare
- All annual leaves
Moreover, mothers can transfer up to 7 months of leave to their fathers.
Paternity leave in Greece
In Greece, employees are entitled to paid paternity leave in Greece for a duration of 14 working days upon the birth of a child. However, these payments are taxed.
Other types of leave in Greece
Listed below are some other statutory leaves in Greece that employees are entitled to:
Childcare leave
Employees in Greece are entitled to a childcare leave for 4 months.
Compassionate leave
In Greece, employees shall get 2 – 5 days of paid leave upon the death of a close family member, such as a parent, spouse, or sibling.
In case of the passing of a child, a paid leave of 20 days can be availed.
Wedding leave
Unlike Croatia, where employers allow only a day of paid leave for an employee’s wedding, employees in Greece receive longer leave. They shall be granted a leave of 6 working days if they work 6 days a week and 5 working days if they work 5 days a week.
Absence due to force majeure or carer’s leave
A working carer or parent is entitled to be absent from work up to two times a year, for one working day each, due to force majeure related to urgent family matters, such as an accident or any illness that requires the immediate presence of the employee.
The employee shall receive full payment for this day’s leave, covered by the social security.
Explore Payoneer Workforce Management in Greece
In order to expand business and manage employees in Greece, employers must be familiar with leave laws in Greece, covering annual, sick, and maternity leave.
Adhering to these regulations plays a crucial role in maintaining smooth and compliant workforce operations.
A workforce management platform like Payoneer Workforce Management can help streamline this complexity by supporting global hiring and day-to-day workforce management. It also helps navigate compliance with local requirements.
Explore how you can simplify workforce management in Greece with the right support.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
According to the leave laws in Greece, employees are entitled to a paid annual leave of 20 days if they work 5 days a week and 24 days if they work 6 days a week.
Yes, employees are entitled to paid sick leave in Greece. The allowance that they are entitled to receive depends on the length of service.
Yes, all employers allow employees to take paid paternity leave in Greece for 14 days.
Yes, according to the leave laws in Greece, the unused leave can be carried forward to the next year. However, it has to be used up by 31st March of the following year. If the remaining leave is not utilized within this period, the employer should pay the employee for the same. Using a platform like Payoneer Workforce Management helps employers manage employee benefit payments like this seamlessly.
Payoneer Workforce Management helps maintain adherence to the leave laws in Greece. These leave entitlements in Greece, like annual leave, public holidays, sick leave, maternity and paternity leaves, etc. Alongside these, there are some other leaves like wedding leave, childcare leave, leave on compassionate grounds, etc., that help employees maintain work-life balance with ease.
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