Understanding Employee Leave Entitlements in Greece

For international HR professionals managing teams in Greece, navigating the country's comprehensive leave policies is essential for compliance and employee satisfaction. Greek labor law provides various types of statutory leave that employers must understand to maintain proper workforce management.

Annual Leave Provisions

Greek employees become eligible for paid annual leave from their first day of employment, regardless of whether they have completed a probationary period. The entitlement calculation follows a proportional system based on employment duration.

For employees working a standard five-day week, the base entitlement is 20 working days annually, while those on six-day schedules receive 24 days. After completing one year of service, employees gain an additional day of leave for each subsequent year, up to maximums of 22 days (five-day week) or 26 days (six-day week).

Long-serving employees receive enhanced benefits: after ten years with the same employer or twelve years across multiple employers, entitlements increase to 25 days (five-day week) or 30 days (six-day week). An additional day is granted after 25 years of service.

Employers must schedule annual leave to ensure it's fully utilized by December 31 each year, even if employees haven't specifically requested time off. Approval for leave requests should typically occur within two months of application.

Sick Leave Regulations

Employees become eligible for sick leave after completing ten days of employment. The compensation structure varies based on tenure: employees with less than one year of service receive half-pay, while those with longer service qualify for full pay during sick leave.

For absences up to three days, employers must compensate half of the daily wage. Beyond three days, employees can claim benefits from the EFKA social security system. The reimbursement process involves electronic submissions and employer approvals, typically taking 2-3 months for processing.

Consider the case of a manufacturing company in Thessaloniki that implemented SailGlobal's automated leave management system, reducing sick leave processing time by 60% and improving compliance tracking.

Maternity and Parental Leave

Female employees are entitled to 17 weeks of maternity leave, typically structured as eight weeks before and nine weeks after the expected delivery date. Job protection extends throughout pregnancy and for 18 months following childbirth.

Compensation depends on employment duration: employees with less than one year of service receive half-monthly pay, while longer-serving staff receive full monthly pay, minus any social security benefits.

Additional parental support includes special maternity leave of up to nine months, with benefits equivalent to the statutory minimum wage. The application process requires registration with e-EFKA and employment in the private sector.

Paternity and Parental Leave Updates

Recent legislative changes have expanded paternity leave to 14 days, which can be taken continuously or intermittently until the child reaches one month of age. Two days may be taken before the expected birth date.

Both parents can access four months of parental leave for children under eight years old, with the first two months compensated by DYPA at minimum wage levels. Special provisions apply for multiple births, adoptions, and foster care placements.

Additional Leave Types

Greek employees also benefit from marriage leave (5-6 working days depending on work schedule), bereavement leave (2 days), and numerous public holidays throughout the year.

Holiday	2025 Date
New Year's Day	January 1
Epiphany	January 6
Clean Monday	March 3
Independence Day	March 25
Good Friday	April 18
Easter Monday	April 21
Labor Day	May 1
Orthodox Pentecost	June 9
Assumption of Mary	August 15
Ohi Day	October 28
Christmas Day	December 25
Boxing Day	December 26

Streamlining Leave Management with SailGlobal

Managing Greek leave entitlements requires careful attention to legal requirements and documentation. SailGlobal's HR solutions help international companies navigate these complexities through automated tracking systems and compliance monitoring. Our platform ensures proper calculation of proportional leave, manages the electronic submission process for sick leave benefits, and maintains records for audit purposes.

By implementing SailGlobal's integrated approach, companies can reduce administrative burdens while ensuring full compliance with Greek labor regulations. This allows HR teams to focus on strategic workforce development rather than manual leave tracking.

Greek Employee Leave Guide: Annual, Sick, Maternity & Parental Leave Policies