Currency: Euro (Rate)

Public Holidays: 12 public holidays (see here)

Employer Taxes: ~25% of gross salary

Official Language: Greek

Payroll frequency: Monthly

13th / 14th Salary: 3 mandatory bonuses equivalent to 2 month's of salary (Easter (1/2 month), Summer (1/2 month) and Xmas (1 month)

3 things to know about employing in Greece

1. In Greece, employment can be ended immediately with no notice. However, if you provide the statutorily suggested notice, the statutory severance amount is halved.
2. Working hours are limited to 40 hours per week; employers can request their employees work an additional 5 hours which must be paid at 120% of salary
3. Greece has 3 mandatory bonuses for staff which equate to 2 months of salary. 1/2 month pay is paid at Easter, 1/2 month pay is paid in Summary and 1 month of pay at Christmas

Employment in Greece

Paid Holidays

Statutory vacation allowance in Greece is dependent on a combination of the duration of employment with current employer and the duration of employment with any employer:

• During the first 12 months of employment: 20 days
• During second calendar year of employment: 21 days
• During third - ninth year of employment – 22 days
• etc

Sick pay and time off

Annual sick leave entitlement depends on the duration of employment:

• From 11 days to 1 year – 15 days
• From 1 year to 4 years – 1 month
• From 4 years to 10 years – 3 months
• From 10 years to 15 years – 4 months
• Over 15 years – 6 months

Minimum Wage

In 2020, the national minimum wage in Greece remained fixed at 758.3 € per month, that is 9,100 euros per year, taking into account 12 payments per year.

Termination & Severance

For terminations to be valid, employers are obliged to provide written notice and make a severance payment.

Since May 2019, employers must also have a valid reason to terminate an employment contract (even when statutory severance is paid). Failure to provide a valid reason for terminating an employee could result in a claim from the employee with the burden of proof lying with the employer.

Statutory severance pay varies depending on the duration of employment:

• 1 and < 4 years of employment – 2 months’ salary

• 4 and < 6 years of employment – 3 months’ salary

• 6 and < 8 years of employment – 4 months’ salary