Greece: Employee rights

Original and updating author: Christos A Ioannou

Summary

• There are various rules regarding employees' hours of work, including a standard weekly working limit of 40 hours. (See Hours of work)
• Employees are entitled to minimum rest periods and rest breaks. (See Rest breaks and rest periods)
• Save for certain exceptions, Sunday working is not allowed. (See Sunday work)
• An employee can agree with their employer that they will work remotely. (See Remote working)
• There are various rules regarding employees' minimum statutory holiday entitlement and when it may be used. (See Holidays and holiday pay)
• Pregnant women, new mothers and adoptive parents have various rights. (See Maternity and pregnancy rights)
• Qualifying employees are entitled to take unpaid parental leave and other paid leave in respect of their children. (See Parental leave)
• Male employees are entitled to 14 days' paid leave on the birth of their child. (See Paternity leave)
• Employees are entitled to unpaid leave to look after a sick child or dependent family members and "force majeure" leave where exceptional circumstances arise. (See Carer's and force majeure leave)
• There are various rules for other types of leave, including leave to get married or prepare for examinations. (See Other leave)
• Part-time workers have various rights, including not to be discriminated against in comparison to a full-time employee unless the treatment can be objectively justified. (See Part-time workers)
• There are various rules regarding fixed-term workers, whose contract may be terminated early only on "important and justified grounds". (See Fixed-term workers)
• Workers posted to Greece from other EU countries must, regardless of the law applying to their employment relationship, be provided with certain terms and conditions under Greek law. (See Posted workers)
• If a business or part of it is transferred to a new owner, its employees also transfer. (See Transfers of undertakings)
• Pay-related entitlements of employees whose employer has become insolvent are protected by a state fund. (See Insolvency of employer)
• Employers with more than 70 employees are obliged to have a body of rules for the regulation of employment relations. (See Disciplinary and grievance procedures)
• Cases of harassment and bullying in the workplace may fall under civil and penal law. (See Bullying and harassment)
• There are various rules regarding the processing and use of employees' personal information. (See Data protection)