GREECE Law and Practice Contributed by: Nikolas Sigkridis, Semina Zavitsanou, Chrysa Kalantzi and Yannis Ragos, POTAMITISVEKRIS
Statutory Allowances Mandatory and separate from the base salary are the Christmas allowance (equivalent to up to 25 days’ wages), the Easter allowance (equivalent to up to 15 days’ wages) and the annual leave allowance (equiva - lent to up to 15 days’ wages). CLAs Minimum wages (above the statutory levels) as well additional allowances for various reasons (eg, mar - riage, family, seniority, unhealthy work, education, qualifications, etc) may also be set by collective labour agreements or arbitration decisions. 1.5 Other Employment Terms Vacations and Vacation Pay Employees in Greece are entitled to paid annual leave, which accrues based on their length of service: • for the first (calendar) year of employment – the employee is entitled to two days of paid leave per month of employment (on the basis of a six-day workweek) or 1.66 days paid leave per month of employment (on the basis of a five-day workweek); • for the second (calendar) year of employment – the employee is entitled to 2.08 days per month of employment (on the basis of a six-day workweek) or 1.75 days per month (on the basis of a five-day workweek); • for the third (calendar) year of employment or more – (from January 1st of the year) the employee is entitled to 26 days per year (on the basis of a six- day workweek) or 22 days per year (on the basis of a five-day workweek); and • employees who have completed ten years of service with the same employer or 12 years of total prior service (with any employer and under any type of employment relationship) are entitled to 30 working days of paid annual leave under a six-day workweek system, or 25 working days of paid annual leave under a five-day workweek system. CLAs may provide for more favourable leave entitle - ments.
Required Leave Under Greek labour law, employees are entitled to various statutory paid or unpaid leaves, including the following. • Maternity leave: 17 weeks total (eight weeks pre-birth, nine weeks post-birth), with full wage subsidised by the Greek social security institution (e-EFKA) and employer top-up. • Childcare leave, which can be granted either: (a) as reduced working hours (one hour daily for 30 months); (b) upon agreement with the employer, two hours daily for the first 12 months and one hour for the next six months; or (c) upon agreement with the employer, as consec - utive leave instead of reduced working hours. • Special nine-month leave (when applicable). During this leave, the birth mother is entitled to receive statutory remuneration by the Greek Public Employment Service (DYPA). • Paternity leave: 14 working days, fully paid. • Parental leave: up to four months per parent, unpaid, for children up to eight years old. Two months are subsidised by the DYPA. • Sick leave: sick leave is not specifically regulated in Greece. Typically, it is not a leave but a justified absence. The employee is entitled to receive the wages of one month, if they have been employed for one year, or the wages of half a month, if they have been employed more than ten days but for less than a year. The employer is entitled to deduct any amounts paid to the employee by e-EFKA. Confidentiality and Non-Disparagement Clauses Confidentiality obligations may be contractually imposed during and after employment. Non-dispar - agement clauses are not explicitly regulated in Greek law, but may be enforced if included in employment or settlement agreements – provided they are spe - cific, balanced and proportional. Overly broad clauses could be deemed unenforceable under good faith and personal rights doctrines. Employee Liability and Limitations Employees are liable for damage caused to the employer through intent. In cases where damage results from negligence during the performance of
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