Greece has introduced updated rules governing how employees in the private sector can take their annual summer holiday leave, under a new framework set by the country’s Ministry of Labor. The changes are now in effect and apply across both private and public employment settings.
A key reform concerns the way annual leave can be divided. Employees now have the option to split their holiday entitlement into multiple periods throughout the year, rather than taking it in one continuous block, as was more commonly practiced in the past.
However, the final decision on when leave is granted still rests with the employer. This means that employees must reach an agreement with their workplace regarding the timing and structure of their vacation days.
More flexibility in dividing annual leave
Until recently, annual leave in Greece could typically be divided into up to two periods, with at least one continuous block of a minimum duration depending on the working week schedule. In practice, many companies preferred to grant extended leave during August, when business activity traditionally slows.
Under the new system, employees gain greater flexibility in distributing their leave across the year. However, each request still requires employer approval, meaning coordination between both sides remains essential.
For example, an employee entitled to 20 days of annual leave may now take 10 days in August, five days in October, and another five during the Christmas period. Each leave segment must include at least five consecutive working days.
How annual leave entitlement increases
The number of vacation days an employee is entitled to depends on their years of service.
During the first year of employment, leave is calculated proportionally based on months worked. From the second year onward, employees become eligible for 21 days of leave on a five-day working schedule, or 25 days on a six-day schedule.
From the third year, entitlements increase slightly to 22 days for a five-day week and 26 days for a six-day week. Further increases apply after longer service milestones: employees with 10 years of service with the same employer—or 12 years in total service—are entitled to 25 days (five-day week) or 30 days (six-day week).
After 25 years of service, entitlement rises again to 26 and 31 days respectively.
Leave must be taken within legal timeframe
Greek labor law also requires that annual leave is fully granted by the end of March of the following year. For 2026 entitlements, this means all leave must be used by 31 March 2027.
The updated framework aims to modernize how vacation time is managed, offering more flexibility for employees while maintaining employer control over scheduling and operational needs.
