Employees across Greece’s banking sector are reporting high levels of occupational stress and burnout, according to a joint study by INE-GSEE (the Research Institute of the General Confederation of Greek Workers) and OTOE (the Bank Employees’ Trade Union). The survey included responses from 4,452 bank staff, revealing widespread dissatisfaction tied to workload, working hours, compensation, and lack of influence over workplace decisions.
Heavy Workloads and Tight Deadlines
More than 8 in 10 respondents said their workload has increased significantly—primarily due to staff shortages or organizational restructuring (84.3%). Similarly, 83.8% reported frequently working under time pressure with tight deadlines. Nearly 8 in 10 felt their opinions are not taken into account in decisions affecting their work (77.5%), while almost 7 in 10 believe their salaries do not match the responsibilities of their roles (67.4%). Over two-thirds (69.2%) also stated that no active measures are being taken to prevent occupational burnout.
Low Job Satisfaction and High Turnover Intent
Overall job satisfaction is low: nearly half (49.5%) described themselves as either completely or somewhat dissatisfied with their jobs. Meanwhile, 40.9% said they would actively seek employment outside the banking sector, citing current pay and working conditions as key reasons.
Work Intensification as the New Norm
The findings point to a broader trend—not isolated incidents of stress, but a systemic intensification of daily work. Rising demands around targets, deadlines, and repeated restructurings have become routine, without corresponding increases in staffing or support mechanisms. As a result, the quality of work—and workers’ well-being—is deteriorating.
Pay, Recognition, and Unpaid Overtime
Misalignment between responsibility and reward is a central concern. It’s not just about salary levels: employees feel their performance, availability, and frequent overtime go unrecognized. Digital timekeeping tools, such as electronic work cards, appear insufficient to address the issue of unpaid extra hours.
Nearly 7 in 10 workers consider their pay inadequate relative to their responsibilities. Roughly two-thirds question the transparency behind bonus and performance-based pay distribution. More than 6 in 10 say they are not compensated fairly compared to peers in similar roles. Over half also report that their income fails to cover basic living expenses.