How long is parental leave in Greece?

In Greece, each parent is entitled to parental leave for a duration of 4 months, which can be taken consecutively or intermittently until the child reaches the age of 8. This right is individual and non-transferable. To qualify, a parent must have completed at least 1 year of service with the same employer.

Single parents, due to the death of the other parent or removal of parental care, are eligible for double the standard parental leave and allowance, totaling up to 8 months.

Additionally, employees with children under 18 years old have the right to periodic absences during the workday, up to 4 days per year, to meet with their children's teachers.

What are the eligibility rules for parental leave in Greece?

All employees in Greece are eligible for parental leave.

How is parental leave payment calculated in Greece?

In Greece, parental leave is granted with pay and is regarded as working time.

What is the process for applying for paternity leave in Greece?

To apply for paternity leave in Greece, the supported employee is required to inform their dedicated support team prior to taking the leave. Additionally, the supported employee must provide documentation in the form of a medical certificate indicating the expected delivery date or an official document confirming the adoption process.

How long is maternity leave in Greece?

In Greece, maternity leave consists of 17 weeks, divided into 8 weeks before childbirth and 9 weeks after childbirth. Additionally, there is a special maternity protection leave of 6 months, which is paid by the Greek Manpower Employment Organization (OAED). If an employee gives birth prematurely, the remaining leave is granted after childbirth to ensure the total leave period reaches 17 weeks.

What are the eligibility rules for maternity leave in Greece?

Female employees in Greece are eligible for maternity leave if they meet the following criteria:

• They are insured by the Social Security Institute.
• They have 200 days of contributions during the previous 2 years.

How is maternity leave payment calculated in Greece?

In Greece, maternity leave payment is calculated at 50% of the supported employee's previous daily earnings.

What is the process for applying for maternity leave in Greece?

In Greece, the process for applying for maternity leave involves several steps:

Eligibility Criteria

• The employee must be insured with the Unified Social Security Fund (EFKA).
• The employee must have at least 200 days of insurance coverage in the last 2 years prior to the due date.

Before Maternity Leave:

• The employee should obtain a medical certificate from a doctor confirming the pregnancy and the expected due date.
• This certificate must be submitted to EFKA, the social security organization.
• The employee must inform their employer in writing about the maternity leave and provide the necessary medical documentation.

During Maternity Leave:

• The birth needs to be registered at the relevant municipality.
• It is necessary to obtain a birth certificate and submit it to EFKA if required.

How long is the paternity leave in Greece?

In Greece, fathers are entitled to 14 days of paid paternity leave. This leave can be arranged in two ways:

• It may begin 2 days before the expected date of childbirth, with the remaining 12 days taken, either wholly or partially, immediately after the birth of the child within 30 days from the date of birth.
• Alternatively, the entire 14-day period can be taken after the birth of the child.

What are the eligibility rules for paternity leave in Greece?

In Greece, all employees are eligible for paternity leave regardless of the length of their service.

How is paternity leave payment calculated in Greece?

In Greece, paternity leave payment is fully paid and covered by the employer.

What is the process for applying for parental leave in Greece?

To apply for parental leave in Greece, the following process should be followed:

• If both parents are employed by the same employer, they must jointly declare which parent will first use the right to parental leave and for how long.

• The parent wishing to take leave must submit an application to the employer either in writing or electronically at least 1 month prior to the start of the leave. The application must specify the start and end dates of the leave. In extraordinary circumstances, the application can be submitted in a shorter period.

• The employer is required to respond to the application within 1 month and must grant the leave at the requested time unless it would seriously disrupt business operations. If a delay is necessary, the employer must provide a written explanation and may offer alternative solutions regarding the timing or flexible options for taking the leave.

• Parental leave must be granted within 2 months of the application submission.

• Applications from certain categories of parents receive priority. These categories include parents with disabilities, parents of children with disabilities or serious illnesses, single parents, women after maternity leave, parents of multiple births, and others meeting specific conditions.

• The leave can be taken flexibly in forms such as reduced daily hours or distributed weekly or monthly. The employee must clarify any required flexibility in their application, and the employer must consider both the enterprise's and employee’s needs before responding within 1 month.

Overall, employers and employees must collaborate to ensure that parental leave applications are managed effectively and in accordance with legal requirements.