Employment law · Greece
When illness becomes a work dispute, find a sick leave lawyer in Greece
If your absence for medical reasons is questioned, or if you were dismissed while recovering, an employment lawyer can assess where you stand. Describe what happened and we match you with a Greek lawyer who deals with these disputes. Free matching, first response within 24–48 hours.
- Lawyers who are members of a Greek Bar Association
- First response within 24–48 hours
- No cost to be matched, no obligation
No legal advice is published on this site — a matched lawyer answers your questions directly.
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Sick leave at work
When illness at work turns into a legal question in Greece
An illness that keeps you away from work can quickly become a legal problem: absence being questioned, pressure to return early, a dismissal that arrives while you are still recovering. Each of these situations is handled by Greek employment practices every day. Tell us in a few lines what happened and we connect you with a sick leave lawyer in Greece whose work covers employment relationships, dismissals and severance. You receive a first response within 24 to 48 hours and being matched costs you nothing. Greek law is codified: the Civil Code, the Code of Civil Procedure and labour legislation set the framework, while the Court of Cassation (Areios Pagos) ensures the uniform interpretation of the law. Your lawyer assesses the file, explains the options and represents you before the competent court or authority.
Greek law in practice
How employment disputes in Greece actually work
Greek employment law is codified, and the route a case takes depends on what you are claiming and how quickly you act. These are the structural points that shape a dispute connected with sick leave in Greece, from the courts that hear it to the deadlines and the costs involved.
Employment disputes before the Greek courts
Employment claims belong to the civil jurisdiction. First-instance cases are heard by the Magistrates’ Courts (Eirinodikeía) or the Courts of First Instance (Protodikeía); appeals go to the Courts of Appeal (Efeteía). The Court of Cassation (Areios Pagos) reviews only the legal correctness of decisions, not the facts, and its civil chambers include labour matters.
Who may practise as a lawyer in Greece
Practising law requires membership of a Bar Association of the State. Under Article 4 of Law 4194/2013, the status of dikigóros is acquired through the nationwide bar examinations, an appointment decision of the Minister of Justice published in the Government Gazette, the statutory oath and entry in a Bar register. Article 6 sets the citizenship and degree conditions.
Dismissal, abuse of rights and severance
Terminating an open-ended employment contract is in principle ‘without cause’, and the employer is not obliged to state reasons. The dismissal must nevertheless respect the prohibition of abuse of rights under Article 281 of the Civil Code and the limits of good faith. Statutory severance rises with length of service from 2 to 12 months’ pay, or half of it where notice is given.
Discrimination, retaliation and evidence
A dismissal on discriminatory or retaliatory grounds is null and void, and the burden of proof shifts to the employer. That matters where the real reason behind a termination is contested, for example when periods of absence are part of the story. A lawyer assembles the written evidence — certificates, correspondence, payslips, notices — that supports your account.
Short deadlines in employment matters
Employment claims carry short time limits: three months to challenge the invalidity of a dismissal and six months for severance. Other civil claims follow the general 20-year limitation period, while commercial, professional-fee and periodic claims, and tort claims, are limited to five years. Early advice protects those rights.
Costs, fees and free legal aid
Judicial stamp duty on a civil claim is proportional to its value — 4 or 8 per mille, plus a 30% surcharge allocated to the TAXDIK fund — with exemptions for public entities and legal-aid recipients. A lawyer’s fee is agreed in writing under Article 58 of the Code of Lawyers and carries 24% VAT. Free legal aid exists under Law 3226/2004 for low-income applicants.
Key time limit — Employment Law
Challenge of dismissal (wrongful or unfair dismissal) — 3 months (invalidity) / 6 months (severance). These short employment periods run from the dismissal, so early advice matters.
The country-specific information on this page comes from official sources — Greek public bodies, the Greek Ministry of Justice and the European e-Justice Portal — last checked in 2025.
- European e-Justice Portal — National justice systems: Greece
- Plenary of the Presidents of the Greek Bar Associations / Athens Bar Association
- Greek Civil Code — Ministry of Justice
- Termination of an open-ended contract by the employer — Greek Ministry of Labour
- Individual employment relations — Frequently asked questions
- European e-Justice Portal — Costs of proceedings: Greece
- European e-Justice Portal — Divorce and legal separation
- Independent Authority for Public Revenue — Inheritance tax for non-residents
- Independent Authority for Public Revenue — Tax obligations arising from loss of life
Common situations
What people bring to us about sick leave
These are the recurring problems clients describe before they speak to a Greek employment lawyer.
Your absence is being questioned
You were signed off work, yet the absence is challenged, counted against you or labelled unjustified. The medical paperwork exists, but nobody has explained what your position actually is under Greek employment law.
Dismissal while you are recovering
A termination letter arrives during illness or recovery and says nothing about the reason. You are left wondering whether the timing was lawful, what severance is owed and how long you have to react.
Procedure and costs feel unclear
Court fees, statutory fee scales, VAT and possible legal aid are hard to untangle from the outside. Without advice you risk missing a short employment deadline or filing in the wrong court.
How we help
Matching you with the right Greek employment lawyer
A short introduction, a clear scope and no charge for the connection.
Employment-focused practices
We match you with lawyers who are members of a Greek Bar Association and whose practice covers employment relationships, dismissals, severance and disputes arising from absence and certified incapacity at work.
You tell the story once
A short description of your situation is enough. We pass it to a lawyer who handles this type of matter, so you do not repeat the same details to several offices before anything moves forward.
Fees agreed in writing
Under the Code of Lawyers, a lawyer’s fee is freely agreed with the client in writing; where no written agreement exists, the statutory scale applies, and fees carry 24% VAT. You know the basis before work starts.
No cost to be matched
Being introduced to a lawyer through our platform is free. You decide whether to instruct them, and free legal aid may be available if your household income is low under Greek legal-aid rules.
European network
Lawyers in other European countries
We also work with lawyers elsewhere in Europe, so you can find help whether you live in Greece, work there temporarily, or are dealing with a Greek employer from abroad.
Questions and answers
Sick leave and employment law in Greece: frequent questions
What does a sick leave lawyer in Greece do for me?
A lawyer reviews the documents you hold — medical certificates, payslips, messages, any termination notice — explains how Greek employment law applies to your situation, sets out your options and time limits, negotiates with your employer where possible, and represents you before the competent court or authority if the dispute continues.
I was dismissed while on sick leave. What deadlines apply?
Two short periods usually matter. You have three months to challenge the invalidity of a dismissal and six months to claim statutory severance, counted from the dismissal itself. Because those periods are brief, it is worth speaking to a lawyer as soon as the termination notice reaches you.
Do I need a Greek lawyer to bring the claim?
Membership of a Bar Association is compulsory in order to practise law in Greece. Under Article 1 of the Code of Lawyers, a lawyer represents and defends clients before every court, authority and public service and provides legal advice and opinions, and legal representation is generally required for litigation.
How much will legal representation cost?
A lawyer’s fee is freely determined by written agreement with the client under Article 58 of the Code of Lawyers, and fees carry 24% VAT. Where there is no written agreement, the statutory scale based on the value of the matter applies. Free legal aid under Law 3226/2004 may be available to low-income claimants.
Which courts hear employment disputes in Greece?
Employment claims fall within the civil jurisdiction, starting before the Magistrates’ Courts or the Courts of First Instance and going on appeal to the Courts of Appeal. The Court of Cassation (Areios Pagos) reviews only the legal correctness of decisions and does not re-examine the facts; its civil chambers include labour matters.
May my employer dismiss me without giving a reason?
For an open-ended contract, termination is in principle without cause and the employer need not state reasons. The dismissal must still respect the prohibition of abuse of rights in Article 281 of the Civil Code and the limits of good faith. Discriminatory or retaliatory dismissals are null and void and the burden of proof shifts to the employer.
Next step
Tell us what happened — we find the lawyer
Describe your situation in a few lines: the dates, the documents you have and what you would like to achieve. We pass it to a lawyer whose practice covers employment disputes in Greece, and it costs you nothing to be matched. No legal advice is given on this website.