Employees will receive their Christmas bonus earlier than the scheduled date this year. The official payment date is set for December 21st, however since this particular day falls on a Sunday, employers must proceed with payment within the previous working day to avoid late payment.
Read: Christmas bonus 2025: Mandatory bank payment and new deadlines – What applies to cash payments
Who is entitled to the Christmas bonus
All employees with dependent employment contracts are entitled to the Christmas allowance. The amount varies depending on the payment method: salaried employees receive one full monthly salary, while daily wage workers are entitled to 25 daily wages. To determine the exact amount, December 10th earnings are used as the calculation base. In cases where the employment relationship has been terminated earlier, the earnings from the last day of employment are taken into account.
Reference period and proportional calculation
The period considered for the Christmas bonus extends from May 1st to December 31st. Employees who worked continuously throughout this entire period receive the full amount. For those who worked for a shorter period, proportional reduction applies: specifically, 2/25 of the salary or two daily wages are paid for every 19 days of actual work. The total employment period includes all legal leave, such as annual leave, maternity leave, and study leave. Regarding sick leave, only three-day sick periods are counted, while days during which sick pay is provided by the insurance organization are excluded.
Special cases and calculation tools
Part-time employees receive the Christmas bonus based on their actual earnings and the time they worked during the specified reference period. For accurate estimation of the amount each employee is entitled to, GSEE in collaboration with KE.P.E.A. provides a special online calculation tool. The tool is accessible through the website kepea.gr/calc-doro-xristoygennon.php and provides immediate results.
