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Greece

Employment Guide & Cultural Intelligence

Overview

Capital Athens
Currency EUR
Language Greek
Time Zone UTC+2 (EET)
GDP per Capita $22,600
Work Week 40 hours

Employment Basics

Standard Work Week 40 hours
Notice Period 1-12 months based on tenure
Probation Period 12 months
Overtime Rules 20% first 5 hrs, 40% additional, 80% rest day, 75% night
Termination Rules Notice + severance based on tenure; collective dismissals capped
Minimum Wage €830/mo (2024; reviewed annually; 14 monthly payments)

Statutory Benefits

20
Annual Leave Days
12
Public Holidays
32
Total Paid Days Off
Parental Leave 17 weeks maternity; 4 months parental leave per parent
Sick Leave Half pay by employer for short term, then social insurance (IKA)

Employer Cost Summary

22.29%
Employer Tax/Contribution Rate
Mandatory Insurance EFKA social security covers health, pension, unemployment
Retirement/Pension EFKA state pension; age 67 (or 62 with 40 years contributions)
Healthcare Universal public + many opt for private supplementary

Cultural Intelligence

Communication Style

Expressive, warm, animated; relationship-driven

Hierarchy

Hierarchical; family-business culture common

Meeting Norms

Time flexible; relationships precede business; long discussions

Negotiation Approach

Expressive; bargaining expected; trust and personal connection essential

Gift Giving

Welcome; quality items; flowers (avoid white lilies — funerals)

Taboos

Avoid Macedonia naming dispute; respect Orthodox religious calendar

Hiring Tips

1 Salaries paid 14 times yearly (12 + summer + Christmas + Easter)
2 Severance pay structure formal and tenure-based — plan terminations carefully
3 Strong English in Athens tech and tourism sectors
4 Work culture more relationship-driven than Northern Europe — invest time
5 Recent labor reforms allow longer probation periods (up to 12 months)
Quick Facts
  • Work Week 40 hrs
  • Annual Leave 20 days
  • Public Holidays 12
  • Employer Burden 22.29%
  • Probation 12 months
  • Currency EUR
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