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Greece: why confirm a former employee's job?

When the employment ends, a Greek employee may require the employer to certify the kind and the duration of their work (Civil Code, Article 678). Confirming the same facts takes a minute and helps the person into their next job. certo asks on their behalf, with their explicit consent.

Law as of 26 October 2026 · Αστικός Κώδικας (Civil Code), Article 678, as published in Government Gazette A 164/1984 (Presidential Decree 456/1984); Law 4624/2019 (Government Gazette A 137/2019), Article 27

In short

  • The facts are already certified. When the employment ends, an employee may require the employer to give a certificate of the kind and the duration of their work (Civil Code, Article 678). Those are the facts we ask about.
  • It helps the person who worked for you. A record confirmed by a former employer is what the next employer trusts. Answering takes about a minute and needs no account.
  • certo asks on their behalf, with their explicit consent. The GDPR lets an employer disclose personal data with the consent of the person it concerns (Art. 6(1)(a)); Law 4624/2019 supplements it and sets how an employee's consent is assessed (Article 27(2)). The person started this check themselves, for these facts and no others.
  • You do not have to answer. No Greek law obliges an employer to answer certo. Declining is fine.

The Civil Code

Αστικός Κώδικας, the Civil Code. Quoted from its official text as published in the Government Gazette (ΦΕΚ Α' 164/24.10.1984, Presidential Decree 456/1984).

Article 678: the employment certificate

Κατά τη λήξη της σύμβασης ο εργαζόμενος μπορεί να απαιτήσει από τον εργοδότη πιστοποιητικό για το είδος και τη διάρκεια της εργασίας του.

In English: when the contract ends, the employee may require the employer to give a certificate of the kind and the duration of their work. These are the facts we ask about, the job title and the dates, so your records already hold them.

Μόνο αν το ζητήσει ειδικά ο εργαζόμενος, βεβαιώνεται και η ποιότητα της εργασίας του και η διαγωγή του.

In English: only if the employee specifically asks are the quality of their work and their conduct also certified. certo never asks about either: no opinion, no performance, no conduct.

We found no other provision of the Civil Code that limits what an employer may tell a third party about a former employee; that question is answered by the GDPR and Law 4624/2019, below.

What is never asked

certo never asks you about pay, performance, the reason for leaving, health, family, beliefs or a criminal record, or anything else beyond the facts listed.

Personal data

The GDPR applies directly in Greece; Law 4624/2019 supplements it.

Law 4624/2019, Article 27(2): an employee's consent

Στην περίπτωση που η επεξεργασία δεδομένων προσωπικού χαρακτήρα εργαζομένου έχει κατ’ εξαίρεση ως νομική βάση τη συγκατάθεσή του, για την κρίση ότι αυτή ήταν αποτέλεσμα ελεύθερης επιλογής, πρέπει να λαμβάνονται υπόψη κυρίως: α) η υφιστάμενη στη σύμβαση εργασίας εξάρτηση του εργαζομένου και β) οι περιστάσεις κάτω από τις οποίες χορηγήθηκε η συγκατάθεση.

In English: where processing an employee's personal data relies, by exception, on their consent, whether it was freely given is judged mainly by the employee's dependence under the employment contract and the circumstances in which consent was given. Here you did not ask for anything: the person started the request from their own account and chose your organisation and each fact.

Η συγκατάθεση παρέχεται είτε σε έγγραφη είτε σε ηλεκτρονική μορφή και πρέπει να διακρίνεται σαφώς από τη σύμβαση εργασίας.

In English: consent is given in writing or electronically and must be clearly separate from the employment contract. The person's request is electronic, recorded by certo and has nothing to do with their contract with you.

  • Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR, consent. The legal basis for your answer.
  • Art. 7(1) GDPR, proof of consent. certo records which account asked, when, and for which facts. Write to support@certo.bio and we send you the record for your request.
  • Art. 5(1)(c) GDPR, data minimisation. You confirm or leave unticked only the facts listed. Add nothing else: anything beyond them is not covered by the person's consent.

What this means for your answer

  • Tick only what your HR, payroll or personnel records show.
  • Not sure it is the same person? Press "We can't find a matching record". Never confirm a record you are not sure is theirs.
  • Your policy is not to answer? Press "We do not answer these requests". The record shows your organisation declined, and nobody else there is asked.

Sources

This page is not legal advice. It reflects the law as it stood on 26 October 2026.