Greece. Delivering Employee Support Services in the Global Community. Fast Facts. Projected Utilisation. Influences. Attitudes Toward Counselling

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1 Delivering Employee Support Services in the Global Community EAP Drivers and Influences Projected Utilisation EAPs are not very popular in. Many human resources professionals and employers are suspicious of EAP services, as there is little data in to support the importance of such a service. In addition, many human resources professionals hesitate to use EAP services because the Greek government does not require such a service to be in place. There is also little support for EAP services among occupational physicians, corporate psychologists, and health and safety professionals who are employed within organisations. People in prefer to access face-to-face counselling. The cost of counselling ranges from 60 to 100 per 45-minute session, depending on the mental health professional s credentials and experience. Influences The European Union has implemented guidelines for the promotion of mental health services in the workplace. The guidelines provide employers with information on the importance of utilising work-life programmes to address concerns, such as workplace stress. Local/Regional/National Laws That Impact Counselling and EAPs In addition to the guidelines implemented by the European Union, the Greek government is interested in implementing laws that would require the services of EAPs in the workplace as a way to address mental health concerns. Mental health professionals must adhere to the Protection of Personal Data in Telecommunications and by Law 3115/2003, which establish the Authority for the Information and Communication Security and Privacy in order to protect the secrecy of mailing and the free correspondence or communication in any possible way, as well as the security of networks and information of personal data in telecommunications. Attitudes Toward Counselling Partly due to media attention, mental health services are slowly becoming more accepted in Greek society; however, there remains a stigma regarding the presence and treatment of mental health issues, particularly in the workplace. Fast Facts Population: 10,749,943 Capital City: Athens Political Structure: Parliamentary Republic Currency: Euro Time Zone: EET Country Pages provided by Workplace Options 1-6

2 Attitudes Toward Alcohol and Substance Abuse Alcohol is seen as an important part of the Greek culture; however, the use of other substances is criticised. The Ministry of Health and Social Solidarity oversees The Organisation Against Drugs (OKANA), which acts as the national coordinator to prevent drug use. OKANA is the only organisation in that has the legal authority to establish, manage, and monitor substance abuse treatment and reintegration programmes in. Attitudes Toward Wellness Services Greek companies are resistant to spend money on any service that can be perceived as superfluous, given the current state of the economy. Wellness services are currently perceived as an unnecessary service. Professional Clinical Qualifications The Employee Assistance Professionals Associatiom (EAPA) Hellenic Branch oversees EAP accreditations in. There are no licensing requirements or certifications for mental health providers in. Many mental health providers have degrees or certifications that are not relevant to their area of practice. In addition, mental health providers are not required to carry a certain set of credentials; however, the EAPA Hellenic Branch has a set of professional guidelines that its members must follow. Individuals need a bachelor s degree in order to become a psychologist. An individual s area of study varies based on his or her chosen degree and specialty. There are no liability insurance requirements for mental health professionals in. Key Professional Associations EAPA Hellenic Branch 8 Lazaraki Street Glyfada Athens, Telephone: Fax: info@eapagreece.com Association for the Psychosocial Health of Children and Adolescents (APHCA) Agiou Ioannou Theologou Holargos Athens, Telephone: Fax: info@epsype.gr Website: Pan-Hellenic Association of Families for Mental Health (SOPSI) 3 Delou Street Vironas Athens, Telephone: Fax: sopsi@ath.forthnet.gr Website: Society of Social Psychiatry and Mental Health 22 rue Meletiou Piga Athens, Telephone: or Fax: ekpsath@otenet.gr Association of Families & Friends for Mental Health (SOFPSI SERRON) County of Serres P. Kostopoulou Street Serres Macedonia, Telephone: Fax: sofpsi-s@otenet.gr Website: Hellenic Association of Social Workers 19 Tositsa Street Athens, Telephone: Fax: country Pages provided by Workplace Options

3 Key Professional Associations (cont.) Hellenic Psychiatric Association National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School 74 Vasilissis Sophias Avenue Athens, Telephone: Fax: Hellenic Society of Neurology and Psychiatry University of Athens, Medical School Eginition Hospital 74 Vasilissis Sophias Avenue Athens, Telephone: Fax: Panhellenic Union of Psychiatry and Mental Health Academias Street Athens, Telephone: Fax: National Delivery Systems Health Care offers free health care for all residents through the National Health System of. Through the system, individuals receive primary and secondary medical care. Primary medical care is offered by rural health centres and provincial surgeries in rural areas, and the outpatient departments of regional and district hospitals, as well as the polyclinics of the social insurance institutions and specialists in urban areas. Secondary care is provided by public hospitals, private for-profit hospitals, and clinics or hospitals that are managed using social insurance funds. The National Health System of covers all citizens. European Union and non-european Union citizens may also receive health care on the basis of multilateral or bilateral agreements. If a foreigner works in and pays Social Security contributions, he or she may obtain a medical card and access free medical treatment and hospitalisation. Private health insurance is available in through a large number of private insurance companies. Some employers also offer employer-sponsored health insurance. Individuals may experience a long wait time to access public mental health services. The wait may be one to two months in length, with the exception of emergency evaluations. EAP providers and private practitioners generally have availability within 24 to 48 hours of an individual s initial request. The wait to see a specialist for medical care can be up to 150 days. Behavioural/Mental Health Coverage The National Health System of offers limited mental health coverage; only psychiatric care is covered. Child Care and Parenting In, children whose parents work are primarily cared for by their grandparents or low-paid immigrant workers. Fewer than 5% of children younger than three years of age attend nursery school, while approximately Country Pages provided by Workplace Options 3-6

4 70% of children from three to six years of age receive care outside of the home. The Ministry of Social Welfare and the Ministry of the Interior oversee child care services at the national level. Local authorities are primarily responsible for managing child care centres, and charge fees for services based on an individual s income. Approximately 180 child care centres are managed by local authorities, while the Ministry of Health and Welfare operates approximately 2,100 public centres, including about 1,000 free and voluntary preschool programmes for children between 42 months and six years of age. Full-day, year-round programmes are available for children for children six weeks up to six yars of age. Children are required to attend school at six years of age. Elder Care has an open care policy for the elderly, in which services are offered on a regionalised and informal basis in an open environment within one s neighbourhood or community. Open care centres are available to ambulatory individuals over 60 years of age. The government and local authorities manage and fund the cost of open care centres. The centres offer the social and recreational facilities, as well as the following services: health education, meal distribution, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, social work services, nursing services, in-home services, and voluntary services. Approximately 300 centres exist throughout, primarily in large cities. The Ministry of Health and Welfare operates the Help at Home programme for elderly individuals. The programme encourages the elderly to be active in self-health care within their families and to become involved in community activities. Cultural Characteristics Language Greek is the official language of. A small percentage of the population also speaks English and French. Ethnic Makeup does not collect data on ethnicity; however, approximately 93% of the population is natural-born citizens, and 7% of the population is foreign citizens. Work Ethic Traditionally, Greeks are not known to have a strong work ethic. This may change given the current state of s economy. Many countries have helped in its current financial crisis, and there is hope that the Greek government will require a more disciplined work day, extended hours, and later retirement in an effort to pay back its debt. Lifestyle/Religion/Family The family is the basis of the Greek social structure. Marriage is expected, and with the exception of monks, nuns, and the upper ranks of the clergy, nearly all citizens marry. Families offer their members financial and emotional support. Extended families are expected to help their relatives in times of need, even if it includes helping one find employment. Nepotism is accepted, and many family relationships carry over into business. The vast majority of the population of is Greek Orthodox, with a small percentage of Muslim individuals and people who practice an undisclosed religion. Communication Styles When greeting one another for the first time, men exchange a firm handshake while maintaining direct eye contact. Close friends and family members may share a light hug or give a light pat on the back or shoulder. Some men may also exchange a kiss on the cheek. Women who are greeting one another for the first time exchange a light handshake. Friends may share a kiss on each cheek. Women and men who are greeting one another for the first time tend to share a warm handshake that is sometimes accompanied by a light touch on the arm or elbow. Friends and family members often exchange a kiss on each cheek. Greeks often speak loudly and with a lot of emotion. It may appear at times as if they are yelling, but it is likely their normal tone of voice. 4-6 country Pages provided by Workplace Options

5 Business and Economic Characteristics Economy The Greek economy went into recession in 2009 as a result of the world financial crisis, tightening credit conditions, and Athens failure to concentrate on a growing budget deficit. The government faces long-term challenges to pass unpopular reforms to correct the economy, as it often receives vocal opposition from the country s powerful labour unions and the general public. In April 2010, received the lowest possible credit rating from a leading credit agency; in response, the International Monetary Fund and Eurozone governments pledged more than $160 billion in support of. Workers Rights Legislation Employers are required by law to pay workers Social Security, known as IKA in. Many employers are opposed to paying IKA, as it costs a substantial amount of money per employee each month. If a worker agrees to not receive IKA, he or she will be considered an illegal worker. If the body that oversees IKA becomes aware of an individual working without coverage, it may threaten to pursue legal action against that worker, or most likely fine the worker s employer, which could result in a loss of employment. People in, whether they are a citizen or a foreigner, often have trouble getting paid. An individual who receives IKA can feel more confident that he or she will get paid. A worker who is having trouble getting paid can often make a threat that he or she will contact the IKA body in order to ensure payment. Employers are also required to pay workers Christmas and Easter bonuses that are equivalent to their salaries. Status and Influence of Work Councils and/or Unions The Greek Constitution and subsequent legislation provide for the right of association. All workers, with the exception of the military and the police, have the right to form or join unions. Approximately one third of Greek workers are members of a union. Unions primarily receive funding from the Workers Hearth, a Ministry of Labour organisation, which dispenses mandatory contributions from workers and employers. The five most powerful public sector unions have contracts with dues-withholding provisions, in addition to receiving Workers Hearth support. There are over 4,000 unions in that are grouped into regional and sectoral federations, as well as two umbrella confederations: the General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE) for private-sector employees and a confederation for civil servants. Greek unions are highly campaigned, and there are party-affiliated groups within the labour confederations, but day-to-day operations are not controlled by political parties or the government. Anyone may serve as a union official. Greek unions keep a variety of international affiliations and are free to join international associations. Communication Internet satellite services are offered in remote areas through Hellas Sat Net. has an excellent telephony system, with available toll-free numbers, SMS texting, and universal international freephones. Confidentiality Issues The Hellenic Data Protection Authority enforces Law 2472/1997 on the Protection of Individuals with regard to the Processing of Personal Data. Information regarding the Law can be found at the following website: dad+portal&_schema=portal Support for International Assignees Embassies British Embassy Athens 1 Ploutarchou Street Athens, Telephone: Website: Country Pages provided by Workplace Options 5-6

6 Embassy of the United States Athens, 91 Vasilissis Sophias Avenue Athens, Telephone: Emergency after-hours telephone on the last Wednesday of each month: Emergency after-hours telephone: or Fax: Schools The American Community Schools of Athens, Inc. 129 Aghias Paraskevis Avenue & Kazantzaki Street Halandri Athens, Telephone: Website: Campion School Aghias Ioulianis Pallini, Telephone: Website: Additional Resources for US or UK Citizens Expatriates.com Website: Expatriates.com is an online community for expatriates that offers a section on, with classified advertisements, links, and a bulletin board. Newcomers Club Worldwide Directories Website: Newcomers Club Worldwide Directories offers a directory of newcomers clubs for newly arrived expatriates, including those in. Acceptance of counselling EAP awareness in business world EAP and work-life utilisation Population of English speakers Employee Assistance and Work-Life Snapshot LOW MODERATE HIGH Telephone availability Internet access 6-6 Copyright 2011 Workplace Options. All Rights Reserved. country Pages provided by Workplace Options