Understanding Greece's Work Hour Regulations
In Greece, understanding the work hour regulations is crucial for compliance and efficient payroll processing. Full-time employment typically involves 40 hours per week, distributed over either five or six days. For a five-day workweek, employees may work up to 8 hours per day. On a six-day schedule, the daily limit is approximately 6 hours and 40 minutes. The legal ceiling, including overtime, is 48 hours per week. Compliance with these standards ensures that businesses avoid significant fines.
Meal breaks must be provided for employees working beyond 6 hours in a day, with a minimum mandatory break of 15 minutes. Greek law also mandates 11 consecutive hours of rest in every 24-hour period and a minimum of 35 hours of uninterrupted weekly rest. This structure helps maintain employee health and productivity, aligning with international labor standards.