Digital Work Card In Greece: Penalties For Employees On-Site Outside Working Hours

As of 1st March 2025, the Digital Work Card system in Greece becomes mandatory for the tourism and catering sectors, aiming to accurately track employees' working hours and ensure compliance with Greek labour regulations. Employers must be vigilant, as non-compliance can result in significant penalties, even when employees are present on company premises outside their scheduled hours.

Presence in Communal Areas

Employees may remain on company premises before or after their designated working hours, using communal spaces such as locker rooms, cafeterias, gyms, or recreation rooms. Although this is legally permissible and relates to internal company organization, it presents a compliance risk during labour inspections. If inspectors from the Labour Inspectorate find employees on-site outside recorded hours, the burden of proof falls on the employer to demonstrate that no work is being performed. Failure to do so can lead to substantial fines.