Annual leave

Employees on a five-day workweek receive 20 days off, while those working six days per week receive 24 days. Leave increases by one day annually after the first year, up to a maximum of 22 days (five-day schedules) or 26 days (six-day schedules).

Employees become eligible for vacation leave after completing 12 months with the same employer. During their first year, employees accrue leave based on time worked. Employers may allow unused leave to be taken until the end of March of the following year.

Public holidays

Greece observes 14 national public holidays each year:

• January 1 – New Year's Day

• January 6 – Epiphany

• Shrove Monday

• March 25 – Independence Day

• Good Friday

• Easter Sunday

• Easter Monday

• May 1 – Labor Day

• Orthodox Whit Sunday

• Orthodox Whit Monday

• August 15 – Assumption of the Virgin Mary

• October 28 – National Day

• December 25 – Christmas Day

• December 26 – Boxing Day

To qualify for holiday leave, an employee must have completed at least 12 months of continuous service with the same employer.

Sick Leave

Employees unable to work due to disability remain eligible for compensation. To qualify, insured individuals must have at least 120 days of contributions in the calendar year before the disability began or 100 days of contributions within the previous 15 months (not counting the last quarter). The benefit is provided for 182 to 720 days, based on total contribution history.

After a three-day waiting period, the insured receives 50% of their daily wages. If the employee has been with the same employer for at least one year, the employer must cover the difference between the benefit and full wage for one month. If employed for less than a year, the employer covers the difference for two weeks.

Maternity Leave

Female workers insured by the Social Security Institute who have made 200 contributions over the past two years are granted eight weeks of maternity leave before childbirth and nine weeks after, with compensation equal to 50% of their previous daily wages. They're also eligible for an additional six months of maternity protection leave after the standard maternity period.

After maternity leave, mothers may reduce their daily working hours by one hour for 30 months or opt for a two-hour reduction for the first 12 months followed by a one-hour reduction for six months. Employees who are caregivers or have children under 13 may request flexible working arrangements.

Paternity Leave

Fathers receive 14 days of paid leave following the birth of a child and may reduce their working hours to provide care without any loss of pay.

If the mother is employed and doesn't take her leave, the father is entitled to use that time instead. Employees who care for others or have children under 13 have the right to request flexible working arrangements.

Other Types of Leave

• Parental Leave: Employees with children up to 18 years old are allowed periodic absences during work hours, totaling up to four days annually, to meet with their children's teachers, with employer approval and paid leave. Full-time workers may take six days of unpaid leave each year to care for a sick child under 16. This increases to eight days for those with two children and 14 days for those with three or more. After completing one year of service, employees can also take at least four months of unpaid parental leave until their child turns six. If a child is seriously injured or hospitalized, the employee may take up to 30 unpaid days off to care for them. Additionally, working parents of children under 18 who have conditions requiring blood transfusions, dialysis, or transplants are entitled to 10 days of paid parental leave annually.

• Unpaid Leave: With written consent from both parties, unpaid leave can be granted for up to one year. During this period, the employment contract is suspended, and no social security contributions are required.

• Caregiver Leave: Employees who have worked for at least six months are allowed up to five days of leave per year to care for a relative or another person with serious medical needs, as long as the individual lives with the employee and requires substantial care or support.

• Dependents Leave: Employees are allowed up to six days of unpaid leave annually to care for dependent family members. This allowance increases to eight days for those with two children and to 14 days for those with three or more. Dependents include children up to age 16, children over 16 with health conditions requiring care, seriously ill spouses, and in some cases, parents or unmarried siblings with serious health issues.

• Marriage Leave: While not legally mandated, employees usually receive between three and five days of paid leave for their wedding.