Best Wage & Hour Lawyers in Thivais

About Wage & Hour Law in Thivais, Greece

Wage and hour law in Thivais, Greece governs when and how employees are paid, how many hours they can be required to work, the premiums due for overtime, night, Sunday, and holiday work, and the recordkeeping rules employers must follow. National Greek labor legislation applies throughout the country, including Thivais and the wider Boeotia region. In practice, your exact rights and pay may also be shaped by any applicable collective labor agreement, your individual employment contract, and the digital timekeeping obligations now in force.

Key themes include a standard full time workweek, mandatory rest periods, paid annual leave, special holiday bonuses, and strict rules about pre-registering and tracking working time through the ERGANI II system and the Digital Work Card for sectors where it applies. The Hellenic Labour Inspectorate oversees compliance, and local courts in Boeotia can resolve disputes when needed.

Why You May Need a Lawyer

You may benefit from legal help if you experience unpaid or late wages, unpaid overtime or premiums for night, Sunday, or holiday work, off the clock work that is not recorded in ERGANI, misclassification as an independent contractor, unilateral changes to your schedule or hours, disputes about the calculation of bonuses or commissions, denial of paid annual leave or the Christmas, Easter, and vacation bonuses, questions about flexible or part time arrangements, issues with the Digital Work Card or employer timekeeping practices, or retaliation after raising a wage complaint. A lawyer can assess your rights, gather and preserve evidence, negotiate with the employer, file a complaint with the Labour Inspectorate, and represent you in court if needed.

Local Laws Overview

Standard working time and rest: The typical full time workweek in Greece is 40 hours. Daily work is usually up to 8 hours, with mandatory daily and weekly rest periods. Employees must have adequate breaks during the day, continuous daily rest between shifts, and weekly rest that customarily includes Sunday, subject to sector specific exceptions.

Overwork and overtime: Work beyond contractual hours may fall into categories of overwork and overtime, with statutory caps and premium pay. Overtime generally requires pre authorization, must be recorded, and attracts higher pay rates. Collective agreements or company policies can provide even better terms. Employers must register changes in working time and overtime in the ERGANI II system before the work is performed.

Night, Sunday, and holiday work: Night work, usually defined as work performed during night hours, triggers premium pay. Work on Sundays and recognized public holidays is restricted and typically compensated with higher premiums or compensatory rest, unless the sector is permitted to operate.

Minimum wage and pay frequency: Greece sets a national minimum wage by ministerial decision that is reviewed periodically. Salaried employees are typically paid monthly, while wage earners may be paid at shorter intervals. Employers must provide payslips, keep accurate payroll records, and pay in a timely manner.

Bonuses unique to Greece: In the private sector, employees are generally entitled to the Christmas bonus, Easter bonus, and vacation bonus, calculated according to time worked in the relevant period. These bonuses are part of established Greek practice and are governed by specific rules on calculation and eligibility.

Leave: Employees are entitled to paid annual leave that increases with service, as well as other statutory leaves such as maternity, paternity, and parental leave. Public holidays are separately protected.

Recordkeeping and the Digital Work Card: Employers must comply with ERGANI II registration duties for working time, schedules, and overtime. The Digital Work Card has been rolled out in designated sectors and requires real time recording of start and end times to protect employees from undeclared work and underpayment.

Enforcement: The Hellenic Labour Inspectorate conducts audits and investigates complaints. Employees can seek back pay, premiums, interest, and administrative penalties against the employer, and in some cases court remedies. Retaliation for asserting wage rights is prohibited.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the standard workweek in Thivais, Greece

The standard full time workweek is 40 hours nationwide. How those hours are distributed depends on your contract or collective agreement, but daily work commonly runs up to 8 hours with required rest periods.

How is overtime defined and paid

Work beyond your agreed schedule can be classed as overwork or overtime, each with specific limits and premium rates under Greek law. Overtime generally requires prior registration in ERGANI II and attracts higher pay. Some sectors and agreements provide more protective terms. A lawyer can check which rules and rates apply to your exact situation.

Do I have to work on Sundays or public holidays

Sunday and public holiday work is restricted and allowed mainly in sectors with legal exemptions. If you work then, you are typically entitled to premium pay and often compensatory rest. Your contract and any collective agreement may contain additional protections.

What counts as working time

Working time generally includes the period you are at the employer’s disposal performing duties. Certain stand by, on call, travel between job sites, training, and preparatory activities may count depending on the facts, law, and any collective agreement. Accurate recording in ERGANI II or the Digital Work Card is important to evidence what was worked.

Are breaks and rest periods mandatory

Yes. Employees must receive an adequate break during the workday and continuous daily and weekly rest. The exact timing and whether breaks are paid can depend on the sector and agreement, but employers must organize work to respect health and safety limits.

Who sets the minimum wage and how do I know the current rate

The national minimum wage is set by ministerial decision after consultation at the national level and is reviewed periodically. Your pay cannot be lower than the current lawful rate. Check your payslip and ask your employer or a lawyer if you are unsure whether your pay meets the current minimums for your category.

What can I do if my wages are paid late or not at all

Keep all evidence such as contracts, payslips, bank statements, and messages. Raise the issue in writing with your employer, then consider filing a complaint with the Hellenic Labour Inspectorate or pursuing a claim in the local courts. A lawyer can help you seek back wages, premiums, interest, and administrative penalties.

Do I get the Christmas, Easter, and vacation bonuses

Private sector employees generally receive the Christmas bonus, Easter bonus, and a vacation bonus, calculated pro rata based on time worked in the relevant period. If you worked only part of the period, you are usually entitled to a proportional amount. Non payment can be pursued as a wage claim.

How does the Digital Work Card and ERGANI II affect me

Employers must register your schedule, changes to your hours, and overtime in ERGANI II, and in sectors covered by the Digital Work Card, your start and end times are recorded in real time. These systems protect your right to be paid correctly and help prove hours worked. You should report discrepancies promptly.

Can my employer change my schedule or reduce my hours unilaterally

Material changes to schedule or hours typically require your agreement or a legal basis such as a valid business need recognized by law, and they must still respect working time limits and registration duties. Unilateral reductions that cut pay can be unlawful. Seek advice before accepting or refusing changes.

Additional Resources

Hellenic Labour Inspectorate: The national authority that monitors labor law compliance, accepts complaints, and conducts inspections. It can mediate and impose administrative penalties for wage and hour violations.

Ministry of Labour and Social Security: Publishes labor regulations, minimum wage decisions, and guidance on working time, leave, and bonuses.

ERGANI II and the Digital Work Card helpdesk: Support for issues related to registration of schedules, overtime declarations, and digital timekeeping obligations.

Organisation for Mediation and Arbitration OMED: Provides mediation and arbitration services in collective and some individual labor disputes.

Public Employment Service DYPA: Offers employment services, information on programs, and guidance for workers and employers.

Local Bar Association in Thebes Boeotia: Can refer you to employment lawyers experienced in wage and hour disputes in Thivais and the surrounding area.

Trade unions and employer associations: Sector based unions and employer groups often provide guidance on applicable collective agreements and rights specific to your industry.

Next Steps

Document everything. Keep your contract, any amendments, payslips, bank statements, schedules, ERGANI notifications, messages about hours, and your own log of work performed. Note dates, times, and names of witnesses.

Check what applies to you. Identify whether a collective labor agreement covers your workplace, whether the Digital Work Card applies to your sector, and whether your position is full time, part time, or shift based. These factors affect pay and premiums.

Raise the issue internally. Communicate concerns in writing to HR or management and request correction of pay or schedules. Be professional and keep copies.

Seek external help promptly. Strict deadlines can apply to certain claims. A local wage and hour lawyer in Thivais can assess the merits, calculate what you are owed, and advise on filing a complaint with the Hellenic Labour Inspectorate or pursuing a court claim.

Protect yourself against retaliation. Greek law prohibits adverse treatment for asserting lawful wage rights or cooperating with inspections. If retaliation occurs, tell your lawyer immediately.

Aim for a practical resolution. Many wage disputes settle through negotiation, mediation, or inspectorate involvement. If settlement is not possible, your lawyer can represent you in the Boeotia courts to seek back pay, premiums, interest, and any additional remedies available in your case.