All About Employee Leave & PTO in Greece
Learn what you need to know about leave requirements in Greece and how Justworks EOR can help you streamline hiring.
How an EOR Can Help with Employee Leave & PTO
Expanding your team in Greece? Understanding local leave and vacation policies is key to staying compliant and keeping employees happy. Justworks takes the guesswork out of compliance with expert support through our EOR services.
With Justworks, you get clear, reliable guidance on crafting leave policies that align with Greek labor laws so you can grow your business while ensuring your team gets benefits they deserve. From managing local leave entitlements to streamlining HR processes, we’re here to make hiring in Greece simple and stress-free.
Employee Leave & PTO Expectations in Greece
Employees in Greece are entitled to receive time off for public holidays, maternity/paternity and parental leave, vacation leave, sick leave, and other leaves of absence.
Vacation Leave
Full-time employees are entitled to at least 20 days of paid vacation leave per year if they work a five-day workweek or 24 days per year if they work a six-day workweek. After 10 years of continuous service, leave increases by one day per year, up to 30 days.
Sick Leave
In Greece, the amount of sick leave employees are entitled to depends on their years of service:
Up to four years of employment: One month of sick leave
Four to 10 years of employment: Three months of sick leave
More than 10 years of employment: Four months of sick leave
More than 15 years of employment: Six months of sick leave
Sick leave is paid at 50% to 100% of an employee’s regular salary during the first 30 days of illness. The employer covers the first three days, and after that, the social security system provides benefits.
Maternity Leave
Female employees are entitled to 17 weeks of paid maternity leave, which includes eight weeks before the expected birth date and nine weeks after birth. Maternity leave is paid at 100% of the employee’s regular salary during the post-birth period by the social security system (EFKA). Before birth, the payment may be covered by the employer, depending on the contract. Employees are guaranteed their position or an equivalent job upon returning to work after maternity leave.
Paternity Leave
Male employees are entitled to two days of paid leave following the birth of their child. This leave is compensated at 100% of the employee’s salary, either by the employer or through social security, depending on the agreement.
Parental Leave
Parental leave in Greece is available to both parents after maternity or paternity leave, offering four months of leave that can be shared between the parents. This leave is unpaid, but employees are protected from dismissal during this time and are entitled to return to their job or a similar position.
Leaves of Absence
Other types of common and excused leaves of absence in Greece include:
Bereavement Leave: Employees are entitled to two days of paid leave in the event of the death of a close family member
Marriage Leave: Employees are entitled to up to five days of paid leave for their marriage, depending on the employer’s policy
Voting Leave: Employees are entitled to up to three days of voting leave depending on if they have to travel to fulfill their civic duty to vote
Public Holidays in Greece
Employees in Greece are entitled to 14 public holidays each year. The national holidays in Greece for 2025 are as follows:
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
Labour Day – May 1
Assumption Day – August 15
Ohi Day – October 28
Christmas Day – December 25
Boxing Day – December 26
Ready to Hire Confidently in Greece?
Build your global team seamlessly with local experts who can help you understand the local labor market while saving you the time and hassle of hiring in Greece.
