One in two employees in Greece work extra hours—unpaid

A new study by the General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE) reveals that nearly half of all private sector employees in Greece routinely work beyond their contracted hours—often without receiving the legally mandated overtime pay. Many also work during their personal time, including weekends, evenings, and additional shifts.

The research, conducted by GSEE’s Labor Institute (INE-GSEE), highlights significant issues regarding working conditions in Greece, including unpredictable schedules, unpaid labor, and negative impacts on workers' health, family life, and financial stability.

According to the study, 57% of men and 55% of women reported working at least one weekend per month. Additionally, 10% of men and 7% of women cited frequent or very frequent last-minute schedule changes. Alarmingly, 45% of workers holding a postgraduate or doctoral degree reported working weekends regularly.

The accommodation and food service sector recorded the highest rate of employees working more than two weekends per month (63%), followed by commerce (47%), communications (37%), education (32%), and manufacturing (31%).

Another concerning finding is that 25% of all respondents worked during their free time to meet job demands, a figure that rises to 38% among postgraduates and 34% among employees in large companies (over 250 employees).

The study shows that those with higher educational qualifications face particularly demanding working conditions, and that labor violations tend to increase with the size of the business. The implementation of the digital labor card system has shed light on the extent of previously undeclared overtime.

Data from the ERGANI employment information system reveal a significant increase in recorded overtime since the introduction of the digital card, with rises in key sectors such as:

• Supermarkets: +60%
• Banks: +38.3%
• Security companies: +27.8%
• Industry: +34.3%
• Retail: +28.1%

According to INE-GSEE, the sectors where workers most often exceed their contractual hours include:

• Construction: 70%
• Accommodation, food services, and manufacturing: 50%
• Wholesale and retail trade: 48%
• Media, communication, health, and social care: 44%

The researchers underline that unpaid overwork has become a structural feature of Greece’s labor market, effectively redistributing income to the detriment of workers. They stress that both the duration and organization of working time have direct consequences for employees’ health and overall well-being.