If you’re hiring in Greece, you need to understand what the law requires before you make your first offer. Greek labor law is detailed, and several entitlements that might look like discretionary perks elsewhere are mandatory here. This guide covers everything you need to know about leave entitlements, statutory benefits, and bonus payments so you can hire compliantly and set clear expectations with your team.
Annual leave
Greek employees are entitled to paid annual leave from their first year of employment. The entitlement depends on the working week structure.
How much leave do employees get?
Employees working a five-day week are entitled to 20 working days of paid annual leave per year. Employees working a six-day week receive 24 working days. These figures increase by one day for each additional year of service, up to a maximum of 22 days (five-day week) or 26 days (six-day week).
In the first year of employment, leave accrues on a monthly basis and employees can’t take it until they’ve completed 12 months of service. From the second year onward, the full entitlement is available at the start of the year.
Public holidays
Greece recognizes 14 national public holidays per year. These are paid days off for all employees. If an employee is required to work on a public holiday, additional compensation applies under Greek labor law.
Sick leave
Greek sick leave rules involve both the employer and the social security fund, so it’s worth understanding how the two interact.
Waiting period and employer obligations
For the first three days of any sick leave period (the waiting period), the employer pays 50% of the employee’s daily wage. From day four onward, the national social insurance fund e-EFKA takes over and pays the statutory sickness benefit. Depending on the employee’s seniority, the employer may be required to top up the e-EFKA payment to bring it closer to the employee’s full salary.
Eligibility and limits
To qualify for sick leave benefits, the employee must have at least 10 days of employment with the organization. The annual sick leave limit is up to one month in any given year, reduced to 15 days for employees in their first year of service. A medical certificate must be submitted within 48 hours of absence for the leave to be recognized.
Maternity leave
Greece provides one of the more comprehensive statutory maternity leave structures in the region.
Duration and pay
Maternity leave totals 17 weeks: 8 weeks before the expected birth date and 9 weeks after. During this period, e-EFKA pays the maternity benefit at the employee’s full salary, though the payment is subject to a cap set by the fund.
Special maternity protection period
Following the standard 17-week maternity leave, employees are entitled to an additional 9-month special maternity protection period. During this period, the employee receives pay at the national minimum wage rate, which is tax-free. This protection extends to adoptive and foster mothers of children up to eight years old.
Paternity leave
Fathers are entitled to 14 working days of paid paternity leave. This leave must be taken within 30 days of the birth and can be taken all at once or split into separate periods. It’s paid leave, funded by the employer.
Parental leave
Greece updated its parental leave rules in line with EU Directive 2019/1158, and the current framework as of 2026 reflects those changes.
Entitlement and pay
Each parent is entitled to four months of parental leave per child. The leave is non-transferable between parents, meaning each parent must use their own entitlement or forfeit it. The first two months of parental leave are paid by DYPA (the Public Employment Service) at the national minimum wage rate. The remaining two months are unpaid.
Eligibility and flexibility
To qualify, the employee must have at least one year of continuous service with the same employer. The leave can be taken in one continuous block or split into separate periods, giving families flexibility in how they structure the time.
The 13th and 14th month salary
Bonus payments in Greece aren’t discretionary. They’re a legal requirement, and failure to pay them correctly exposes you to penalties.
What’s required and when
Greek law requires three statutory bonus payments across the year:
- Christmas bonus: One full month’s salary, paid by December 25
- Easter bonus: Half a month’s salary, paid before Easter Monday
- Summer holiday allowance: Half a month’s salary, paid by July 1
Together, these add up to two full monthly salaries across the year, which is why they’re commonly referred to as the 13th and 14th month salary. Employees who haven’t completed a full year of service by the payment date receive a pro-rated amount based on their months worked.
Managing greek leave and benefits through an Employer of Record
Greece’s leave entitlements and benefit obligations are layered. You’re dealing with multiple payment sources (employer, e-EFKA, DYPA), strict deadlines for bonus payments, and rules that vary depending on seniority, working week structure, and employment duration. If you’re hiring in Greece without a local entity, the compliance burden is significant.
An Employer of Record (EOR) handles all of this on your behalf. The EOR employs your Greek workers locally, manages enrollment in e-EFKA, processes the mandatory bonus payments on the correct dates, and ensures leave tracking is aligned with statutory requirements. You retain full day-to-day control of the work while the EOR takes on the legal employer responsibilities.
For companies scaling a Greek team quickly, EOR services remove the need to establish a local entity before you’ve proven the market, and they reduce the risk of costly compliance errors in a jurisdiction where the rules are detailed and enforced.
Book a demo to see how RemotePass manages leave and benefits compliance in Greece.
Frequently asked questions
When do greek employees become eligible for annual leave?
In the first year of employment, employees accrue leave monthly and can only take it after completing 12 months of service. From the second year onward, the full annual entitlement is available at the start of the year.
Who pays for sick leave in greece?
For the first three days (the waiting period), the employer pays 50% of the employee’s daily wage. From day four onward, e-EFKA pays the statutory sickness benefit. Depending on seniority, the employer may also be required to top up the e-EFKA payment.
Are the christmas and easter bonuses mandatory in greece?
Yes. The Christmas bonus (one month’s salary), Easter bonus (half a month’s salary), and summer holiday allowance (half a month’s salary) are all statutory obligations. They must be paid by specific dates, and employees with less than a full year of service receive pro-rated amounts.
Can parental leave in greece be transferred between parents?
No. Each parent’s four-month parental leave entitlement is non-transferable. If one parent doesn’t use their entitlement, it’s lost. Both parents are also required to meet the one-year continuous service requirement with the same employer to be eligible.
