Recruiting and hiring employees in a new location like Greece is an exciting milestone, but the process doesn’t come without challenges. Companies have to learn all of Greece’s employment compliance laws and find the right candidates to fill open roles, all while doing business in a new market.
However, with our Employer of Record (EOR) solutions, companies can expand swiftly and smartly. As the EOR, we’ll hire employees to work on your behalf and ensure you stay compliant throughout the process.
Recruiting in Greece
Your recruiting efforts in Greece will only be successful if you understand where to find local talent. The most popular job sites include kariera.gr, skywalker.gr, xe.gr, and indeed.com. Employers should also notify Greece’s public employment service, the Greek Manpower Employment Organization, of any vacancies.
Greece’s unemployment rate is high, which gives you a greater supply of labor. However, it can take a long time to comb through all the applications to find the most suitable candidate.
Job seekers in Greece typically expect a short application process — approximately 22 days. Therefore, it’s important to provide an easy application experience and ensure all recruiters are accessible. While recruiting in Greece, companies may be eligible for a labor-cost subsidy program to help people under 25 or individuals who have been unemployed long-term, thereby reducing labor expenses.
Background checks
Employers are limited in how they can process personal data. Companies can only collect candidate data that is absolutely necessary to assess their suitability and skills for the job. For example, you are only allowed to process a person’s criminal prosecutions and convictions if it’s necessary for the job or for reaching a decision during recruitment. All data can only be collected directly from the candidate.
Laws against discrimination in Greece
Laws in Greece and the EU also outline provisions for eliminating discrimination. Employers cannot discriminate against employees based on their racial or ethnic origin, religion or beliefs, disability, age, or sexual orientation. National laws also prohibit publishing vacancies that reflect an intention to discriminate. All hiring criteria must be clear and be relevant to the job.
Laws in Greece also require equal opportunities and treatment regardless of gender.
How to hire employees in Greece
To start an employment relationship, employers need to legally register with the right social insurance foundation. Then, complete a hiring document with the employee’s personal information and job details. Once both parties have signed the document, you’ll need to submit it to the authorities on or before the first day of employment.
Although it’s not required, it’s best practice to draft a written employment contract for each new hire that outlines the position, compensation, termination terms, working hours, and all other relevant information. Greece allows indefinite contracts and defined employment contracts that range from 1 month to a year. Employment contracts are required for employees under a teleworking arrangement.
Greece employment laws
Employment laws in Greece outline the typical workweek, which is 40 hours spread out over 5 or 6 days. Employees are allowed to work 5 additional hours a week at the employer’s request. Sunday work is generally not permitted. Overtime is permitted but limited to 150 hours per year.
Onboarding in Greece
After finding your ideal candidate in Greece, the next step is onboarding. Employment laws in Greece do not include any specific ways to onboard employees, but you can take certain steps to make new hires feel more comfortable. This includes going over the employment contract, company code of conduct, and any other important documents on the employee’s first day. Consider onboarding multiple employees at one time to encourage team bonding.
Grow globally with G-P.
G-P never forgets that behind every hire is a human being. That’s why we’ve backed our fully customizable suite of global employment products with our robust team of HR and legal experts, so we can remain at your side, ready to support you as you build your global teams. With the #1 Global Growth Platform, you have the recruitment tools and services you need to find your perfect full-time or contract match.
Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you recruit, hire, and onboard anyone, anywhere.