Greece

Contract Types

In Greece, contracts can either be indefinite or fixed term. Fixed term contracts must be renewed in writing, or they will be considered as permanent contracts. They can only be renewed twice over a 3 year period. A break in employment of at least 45 days is required for a new fixed term contract after this period.

Probation           

The standard probation period in Greece is up to six months and most companies give a 3 month probation period.

Working Hours

40 hours per week, 8 hours per day.

Overtime           

Between 40 and 45 hours per week should be compensated at 120% of the normal wage, above this threshold 140% of the normal salary is due. The maximum overtime allowed legally is 3 hours per week or 150 hours per year.

Other   

A 13th and 14th month salary is mandatory but can be prorated over the year. Note that one half month of these additional salary entitlements is not due if the employee has taken sick leave.

Employers are required to make additional payments for remote workers standing at Euro 28 per month.

Tax rates valid for 2025

Corporation Tax: 22%    

Consumption Tax: 24% 

Employers’ Social Security Contributions: 21.79%            

Employees’ Contributions: 13.37 %        

Income Tax Rates           

Up to 10,000: 9%

10,000 to 20,000: 22%

20,000 to 30,000: 28%

30,000 to 40,000: 36%

Over 40,000: 44%

Notice                  

Fixed term contracts may only be terminated for reasons such as gross misconduct. Otherwise the contract should be paid to the end unless the contract stipulates the possibility to terminate the contract early and the severance to be paid, which should be the same as under an indefinite duration contract.

In Greece, the notice period depends on length of service:

Less than 12 months: no notice

Up to 2 years: 1 month

Up to 5 years: 2 months

Up to 10 years: 3 months

Over 10 years: 4 months

No notice is required during probation or for dismissal when the employee has committed an offence.

Dismissal Process           

Employers should give written notice of termination including an explanation as to the reason. In cases of misconduct a warning should be given, and the employee should be given the opportunity to explain their actions.

Severance Pay    

This is payable based on service in cases where the reason for termination may be considered illegal, such as redundancy or performance related reasons. After 1 year of service the amounts payable are:

1 to 4 years’ service      

2 months salary

4 to 6 years’ service    

3 months’ salary

6 to 8 years’ service      

4 months’ salary

8 to 10 years’ service    

5 months’ salary

10  years’ service

6 months’ salary

rising by 1 month per year of service up to 16 years’ service when 12 months’ salary is due. Note these severance amounts include notice payment due.

No severance is due for a termination made during probation.

Annual Leave 2025

National Public Holidays: 12

New Year’s Day – 1st January     

Day given in lieu: No

Epiphany – 6th January 

Day given in lieu: No

Clean Monday – 3rd March

Day given in lieu: NA

Independence Day – 25th March

Day given in lieu: No

Orthodox Good Friday – 18th April

Day given in lieu: NA

Orthodox Easter Monday – 21st April

Day given in lieu: NA

Labour Day – 1st May

Day given in lieu: No

Orthodox Pentecost Monday – 9th June

Day given in lieu: NA

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary – 15th August

Day given in lieu: No

Ochi Day – 28th October

Day given in lieu: No

Christmas Day – 25th December              

Day given in lieu: No

Second day of Christmastide / St. Stephen’s Day – 26th December

Day given in lieu: No

Holidays always falling at weekends are excluded. Days off in lieu are not usually given when a public holiday falls at the weekend. Additional holidays may apply depending on the region.

Paid legal entitlement (working days)   

Employees are entitled to 20 days’ annual leave in the first year of employment which rises by one day per year of service to 22 days and then rises again to 25 days after 10 years (or 12 years with any employer) and 26 days after 25 years’ service with any employer.

Unused holiday may be carried forward for 3 months.

Sick       

Sick leave entitlement varies with tenure:

Up to 4 years – 1 month

4 to 10 years – 3 months

10 to 15 years – 4 months

Over 15 years – 6 months

During the initial three days of illness-related absence, employees receive 50% of pay funded by the employer. Thereafter sick pay is funded by the employer until day 13 for those in the first year of employment and until day 25 for those with above 13 days of employment.  After this time the social security will fund sick pay. Entitlement to sick leave starts 10 days after employment.

Maternity          

Pregnant employees have the right to take maternity leave  of 119 days, 56 days being taken before the birth and 63 days after. The first 25 days are paid by the employer for those with over 1 year’s service or 13 days’ pay for those with less than 1 year’s service. This leave is counted as sick leave; if an employee has already used their sick leave entitlement then they will receive pay from Social Security.

New mothers’ employment rights are protected from notification of pregnancy up to 18 months after delivery.

Paternity

Fathers are entitled to a maximum of two weeks of leave, which can be taken from 2 days before the child is born until it is 30 days old, or it can be granted after birth. New fathers are protected from dismissal for 6 months. Paternity leave also applies to adopting parents.

Parental

Employees with 1 year of service are eligible for up to 4 months of parental leave. This is paid by social security for up to 2 months.

One of the new parents can also avail of reduced hours of 1 hour per day for 30 months or 2 hours per day for 12 months, followed by 1 hour per day for 6 months with no loss of pay.

School Child Leave

Up to 4 days’ paid leave per year may be taken until the child is 18.

Marriage

5 days of paid leave is available on the occasion of an employee’s wedding.

Carer    

After 6 months’ employment, 5 days’ unpaid leave is available each year to care for a sick relative.

Bereavement Leave      

Employees are entitled to 2 days’ paid leave on the death of a close family member.

Election Leave  

Up to 2 days is available for those who have to travel to vote.

Medical

The Greek public health system is available to all residents with low co- payments.  and is complemented by a private health system. Waiting times can be long in the public system, so many companies will offer private medical insurance so employees (and often their families) can enjoy access to a wider range of specialists and hospitals with reduced waiting times.