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KEY DEVELOPMENTS FOR 2021

Teleworking and flexible working arrangements

Teleworking remains a key topic for Greece. During the past months, many employees have been relegated to work from home. The experience has demonstrated that teleworking can be a feasible alternative for office employees. When talking about "the new normal," flexible working arrangements (i.e., work from home arrangements) are a cornerstone of such conversation. Hence, a subsequent increase in employment contracts providing for a hybrid work week (i.e., a work week divided between workplace and home) are expected the following year.

Employees' well-being and the right to disconnect

Employees' mental health and work life balance constitutes a rising concern in the Greek labour market. To that end, companies are increasing cooperation with therapists and support lines and organizing wellness sessions and initiatives for their employees. Especially now, with the rising trend to shifting to teleworking arrangements, employees' right to disconnect is anticipated to turn into a much-debated topic.

Digitalization and cybersecurity

The employment landscape is being reshaped driven largely by the requirement of digital transformation. As digitalization advances, a growing concern will follow as to cybersecurity and the protection of corporate and employee data. Key topics include employees' online monitoring and information and personal data security related measures.

KEY DEVELOPMENTS FOR 2020

Teleworking in the COVID-19 era

Although teleworking has been regulated in Greece since 2006, it has not been very common in practice until recently. However, teleworking is expected to become more popular as a result of COVID-19.

Digital transformation

The megatrend of digitalisation, as well as related trends, such as digital consultation meetings between employers and employee representatives and 'digital terminations', is beginning to have a significant impact on the Greek labour market. Recent legislative changes set out a general framework for digital working.

Ongoing consideration of employee data protection issues

The EU General Data Protection Regulations 2016/679 (GDPR) remains a key topic in 2020. Employee data protection has a particular impact on areas, such as employees' access control and monitoring of work time. The Greek Data Protection Authority has issued guidance (in line with the relevant European Union Agency Cybersecurity recommendations) on best practices for working from home in order to mitigate the cybersecurity and data privacy risks associated with remote working.