wherewework survey reveals gap between employees' salary expectations and employers' plans in Greece

The findings of the survey clearly highlight the growing divide between employee expectations and employer strategies in Greece.

Significant insights into salaries, benefits, and expectations from both employees and employers in Greece have emerged from a survey titled "Salaries & Benefits – Balancing Expectations and Offers," conducted by wherewework. The survey reveals a market disparity between what employees are seeking and what employers are prepared to offer. It also points to a general sense of disappointment within the workforce, alongside a broader trend of professionals looking for improved job opportunities.

The survey covered both employees and employers

The survey was conducted between April 15 and June 1 across Greece, Moldova, Bulgaria, Romania, and Hungary, gathering responses from over 9,000 respondents at a regional level, including both employees and employers.

In Greece, over 1,500 employees and employers participated. Their responses show that most employees are dissatisfied with the salary and benefits packages they receive, relative to their role and experience. Many expressed a willingness to change jobs immediately. Meanwhile, most employers reported no plans to make significant changes to their compensation policies—highlighting a substantial gap between employee expectations and company strategies.

It's worth noting that respondents represented a wide range of professional sectors, including retail, construction, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, consulting, telecommunications, and banking. The survey ensured a balanced mix of participants—from entry-level employees to managers—and included employers ranging from small businesses to companies with over 1,000 employees.

Costin Tudor, CEO of wherewework, emphasized the broader significance of the insights noting: “The survey results are crucial because they help us better understand how the job market is shifting in Greece—and how it compares to other European labor markets. The gap between employee expectations and employer offerings is not just about numbers - it reflects a deeper need for transparency, dialogue, and access to reliable information. In this context, the findings in Greece provide a revealing snapshot of the country’s labor market, where a clear misalignment between employee expectations and employer offerings points to a pressing need for meaningful change.”

Low pay satisfaction driving job search intentions

The findings related to employees’ readiness to change jobs are particularly striking. Only 10.6% of respondents said they are satisfied in their current job, while nearly 30% are actively seeking new employment. Additionally, 44% said they would be willing to switch companies if a good opportunity arose, and almost 9% stated they are likely to consider a move within the next 6 to 12 months.

Employee dissatisfaction is also evident in the gap between current salaries and what workers consider fair for their roles and experience. Specifically, 48% of respondents said they are "dissatisfied" or "very dissatisfied" with their income, 36% expressed "neutral feelings," 15% said they are "satisfied," and only 0.5% reported being "very satisfied." Furthermore, nearly half of the employees surveyed said they had not received a raise in the past two years—almost twice the rate observed in other countries—while only one in ten reported a raise exceeding 10% in that period.

What employees are looking for

The vast majority of employees (65%) ranked a better compensation package—including salary and benefits—as the most important factor when considering a job change. This was followed by a better working environment (16.5%), opportunities for career development (9%), flexible hours and teleworking options (6%), and other reasons (3%).

Regarding additional company benefits beyond salary, employees said the most common ones are private health insurance (40%), followed by meal vouchers (33%), performance bonuses (27%), flexible working arrangements (27%), and life insurance (11%). However, 94% of respondents indicated that a salary increase would be the most compelling reason to stay at their current job. Other retention factors include career advancement opportunities (57%) and higher bonuses (42%). Despite this, 57% of employees believe there will be no improvement in salaries or benefits over the next two years.

No indication of wage increases by employers

The responses from employers who participated in the survey offer important insights into current salary strategies. According to the findings, 21% of employers reported that the average net salary in their company is below €1,000, while 34% said it ranges between €1,000 and €1,500. Only 3% stated that the average salary exceeds €3,000. 

As for additional benefits, 10% of employers admitted to offering none at all. Nearly 50% said they provide extra perks worth up to €100 per month, while 30% reported offering benefits valued between €100 and €200.

Significantly, 62% of employers indicated they have no plans to increase their benefits budget, and 9% even said they are considering cuts. Just 15% plan to raise their spending on benefits, with the same percentage considering the introduction of new ones. Only 15% of employers said they intend to significantly revise their overall compensation strategy in the coming year. Most companies are instead planning either targeted changes in specific areas (47%) or only minimal adjustments (37%).

Key drivers of employee retention and the importance of feedback

Although there is no significant trend toward wage increases in Greece, nearly half of employers (49%) acknowledged that overall compensation is the most important factor in both retaining current employees and attracting new talent. This was followed by work-life balance (23.33%) and company culture (14%) as key considerations, while career growth opportunities (9%) and management quality (5%) received lower rankings.

Encouragingly, the vast majority of employers expressed a strong interest in receiving feedback from their employees regarding income satisfaction. The most common channels include internal surveys, one-on-one discussions, informal feedback methods, and online review platforms. Only 14% of employers reported not collecting any employee feedback at all.

A need for change

The survey findings clearly illustrate the widening gap between employee expectations and employer practices in Greece. The lack of significant improvements in pay and benefits, combined with growing staff dissatisfaction and high turnover risk, underscores the urgent need for employers to rethink their policies. To attract and retain skilled professionals, companies must adapt their offerings to better align with employee needs in an evolving work environment.

In addition to the survey, wherewework also presented in a  full report "2025’s Great Expectations Gap: Salaries & Benefits in Romania, Moldova, Greece, Bulgaria & Hungary. A dual-perspective study capturing what employees expect and what employers offer". This resource provides an in-depth analysis of the survey results and is available for download.

The study reflects a complex reality, where employees in the region, especially in Greece, perceive an increasing gap between the effort they put in and the rewards they receive. Although there are complaints and high expectations regarding salaries and benefits, there is also a shared desire for balance and adaptation. In this context, creating a work environment characterized by empathy, flexibility, and open communication becomes key to retaining and motivating employees in the long term. The future belongs to those who understand that success is measured not only in numbers but also in the ability of organizations to align their policies with the real needs of people.