Unpaid overtime, heavy workloads and growing workplace pressure are shaping the experience of many employees in Greece, according to the second part of a nationwide survey conducted by the General Confederation of Labor of Greece (GSEE).

The survey, which gathered responses from 6,000 private-sector workers across the country, found that 35.5% of employees work beyond their normal hours at least occasionally. Among those who work extra hours, 43.4% said they do not receive direct financial compensation for the additional work.

The findings highlight that the quality of employment is not determined only by having a job or the level of wages, but also by working time, overtime compensation, workload, job insecurity and the effects of work on physical and mental health.

One in three employees work beyond normal hours

According to the research, overtime has become a significant part of daily working life for many employees in Greece.

Of those who work additional hours, 54.7% said they are paid for them, while 34.5% receive no payment and 8.9% receive time off or additional leave instead of direct financial compensation.

The likelihood of working beyond regular hours increases as company size grows. In businesses with up to nine employees, 32% reported working extra hours at least sometimes, while the figure rises to 45.4% in companies with more than 250 employees.

However, the most intense overtime levels — defined as six or more additional hours per week — were recorded in medium-sized businesses employing 50 to 249 workers, at 35.6%, and businesses with 10 to 49 employees, at 35.5%.

The survey suggests that overtime is not limited to large corporations but affects different types of workplaces.

Differences in overtime pay between men and women

The study also recorded differences in how overtime is compensated between male and female workers.

Among employees who work additional hours, 58.8% of men said they receive payment, compared with 48.9% of women.

At the same time, 41.1% of women reported that they are not paid for extra working hours, compared with 29.9% of men.

The findings point to differences in the financial recognition of additional work between genders.

Heavy workloads linked to health concerns

The survey also examined how working conditions affect employees’ health.

The most commonly reported sources of workplace strain were intense time pressure or heavy workloads, reported by 60.1% of workers, followed by prolonged standing or sitting, reported by 58.8%.

Other factors included repetitive physical movements (31.3%) and other causes of work-related stress (22.2%).

Among workers who put in 11 or more extra hours per week, 86.2% reported high time pressure or heavy workloads, while 80.8% reported prolonged standing or sitting.

The research found that employees working excessive hours were also more likely to report health problems connected to their jobs.

Stress emerges as the most common work-related health issue

Stress was the most frequently reported health problem linked to work, with 42.1% of employees saying they had experienced or seen their stress levels worsen over the previous 12 months.

Other common issues included pain in bones, joints or muscles (29.4%), headaches or eye strain (28.9%), and overall fatigue (27.3%).

Workers in companies with more than 250 employees reported higher levels of several work-related health problems, including stress (46.5%), muscle and joint pain (35.9%), headaches (39.1%) and fatigue (33%).

The survey also showed that employees who frequently consider changing jobs report significantly higher levels of work-related health problems. Stress reached 63.3% among those considering leaving their job very often, compared with 36.2% among those who never think about changing jobs.

Unpaid overtime linked to greater workplace pressure

The research indicates that unpaid overtime is not only a financial issue but is also associated with more demanding working conditions.

Employees who are not paid for extra hours reported higher levels of working during their free time, workplace stress, limited communication or cooperation, and incidents of physical or verbal pressure.

Among workers who are not compensated for overtime, stress was reported by 57.1%, compared with 45.6% among those who are paid for additional hours.

Employees working 11 or more extra hours per week also reported higher levels of stress (57%), muscle and joint pain (48.8%) and fatigue (45.3%).

The authors of the survey said discussions about productivity, competitiveness and economic growth should also address working hours, fair compensation for additional labor, prevention of workplace exhaustion and the creation of jobs that protect workers’ health and dignity.