A significant majority of employees in Greece are experiencing intense stress at work, according to a new survey by the research institute of the Greek General Confederation of Labour (GSEE), which paints a picture of a heavily strained working environment with spillover effects on personal and social life.
The findings indicate that 80% of workers report experiencing strong pressure in the workplace, while thousands face on a daily basis heightened anxiety, psychological strain, workplace bullying and incidents of sexual harassment.
According to the survey, 73% of employees work under strict deadlines, and 87% say they are frequently or constantly under stress. More than half (51%) believe that this psychological burden negatively affects their life outside work, including family and social relationships.
Stress levels across age groups
The data show consistently high stress across all age categories:
Ages 17–34: 47% report feeling pressure “always” or “most of the time”Ages 35–54: 50%Ages 55 and above: 53%
The impact on life beyond work is also significant:
57% of workers aged 35–54 say workplace pressure affects their personal life52% of those over 55 report the sameHarassment and workplace inequality concerns
The survey also highlights worrying findings on workplace harassment and bullying, suggesting these are not isolated incidents but linked to broader structural inequalities.
Key reported factors behind harassment include:
Age: 36%Gender: 27%Sexual orientation: 10%Nationality: 7%
Gender-based differences are notable:
Among women, gender is cited as the main cause of harassment (42%)Among men, age is the dominant factor (35%)
Younger workers (17–34) report the highest rate of harassment linked to sexual orientation, at 10%, the highest across all age groups.
Broader implications
The findings point to a labour market environment where work intensification, psychological strain and discriminatory behaviours coexist, raising concerns about both workplace regulation and enforcement mechanisms.
The report adds to a growing body of European-level research over recent months highlighting rising occupational stress, particularly in sectors marked by tight deadlines, flexible contracts and increased performance monitoring.