Filenews 20 December 2025 - by Eleftheria Paizanou
2026 will start with changes in the working environment of civil servants. In the second month of the new year, it is estimated that flexible forms of work will be implemented, which include the extension of flexible hours, the possibility of employment with reduced hours by two hours for specific categories of employees and teleworking.
With the new year, the Council of Ministers is expected to determine the number of days during which employees will work with the method of teleworking.
Already, the Department of Public Administration and Personnel of the Ministry of Finance is working feverishly so that teleworking can be implemented without any problems in the Public Sector. At the same time, computers are expected to be given to employees, who currently do not have to be able to work from home using the method of teleworking.
At the same time, the TSDP is expected to release a circular with the guidelines to employees to make the transition from the traditional way of working to teleworking smooth. In addition, it is not excluded that some training seminars for the employees will be held.
However, a basic condition for taking advantage of the possibility of teleworking is the ease of performing the duties of employees, based on their nature and the technological means required for their execution.
At the same time, teleworking will not apply to employees employed by the shift system, while the Council of Ministers will have the possibility, if it deems it appropriate, to exclude other categories of employees from the possibility of teleworking.
Employees who complete at least one year of service in the position they hold or in the duties they perform will have the opportunity to telework. Also, employees who were appointed to the public service after the completion of one year as employed in duties of a similar nature to those of the position to which they were appointed may telework before the completion of one year of service by decision of the relevant supervisor.
Employees who will work with the teleworking method should submit a request to the head of the service, who will decide after taking into account the service needs and ensuring the smooth operation of the service.
It should be noted that employees who will be teleworking should have a fast and secure internet connection and a service laptop in the teleworking area, which will be connected to their official phone and office automation system.
The flexible hours of attendance at work are extended from one and a half hours to two hours, so that the new hours are between 7:00 and 9:00 in the morning. The departure will range respectively from 2:30 to 4:30 in the afternoon.
Then the reduced employment
In the meantime, perhaps after February, the reduced employment by two hours a day in the public sector will be implemented. And this, among other things, to provide the services with the necessary time to comply with the provisions of the regulations.
Time will also be given to the various government departments to proceed with the installation of control systems for the arrival and departure time of employees. It is worth noting that those who work two hours less a day will have the corresponding reduction in earnings.
With reduced employment, they can utilize specific categories of workers. Parents of children up to 15 years of age, as covered by the law on Leave (Paternity, Parental Life, Care, Force Majeure) and Flexible Work Arrangements for Work-Life Balance, caregivers of people with serious health problems who live in the same household as the employee, and employees with disabilities or other serious health problems after having previously secured a medical certificate, will be able to exercise this possibility.
