Greek law details holiday pay and allowance regulations

Greek labor law clearly outlines employer obligations regarding the payment of holiday pay and allowances, ensuring employees receive these benefits before their annual leave commences. The law stipulates that these payments must be made in advance, and they cannot be offset against any voluntary benefits or higher wages provided by the company.

During their annual leave, employees are entitled to their regular wages as if they were working. If an employer fails to grant the requested leave within the stipulated timeframes, they are obligated to pay the employee the equivalent of their leave wages with a 100% surcharge.

The calculation of the holiday allowance depends on the employee's length of service and regular earnings. For salaried employees, the allowance is equivalent to their regular wages during the leave period, capped at the equivalent of 15 days' pay. In practice, this often amounts to half of a monthly salary. For daily wage earners, piece-rate workers, or those paid by commission, the allowance cannot exceed the equivalent of 13 days' pay, though they may receive up to 15 days' wages in practice.

Strict rules govern the scheduling and granting of leave to protect employee rights and ensure smooth business operations. Leave must be granted upon employee request and agreement, within two months of the request. Furthermore, at least half of a company's workforce must take their annual leave during the summer period, defined as May 1 to September 30.