*Update 14.09.2022: OP [1] and ESTAT [2] requested and received exceptions (‘derogations’) similar to those they had previously.*
So, we’re back to work again for an obligatory one day a week [1]: this is all very similar to the last time this happened, in September 2021 [3]. The core time for DGT, Eurostat, CNECT, DIGIT, EAC, MOVE/ENER, ESTAT, OIL, OP, PMO and DG SANTE in Luxembourg remains as it was, at least for the moment: no changes there … so far. The issue is that the soon-to-be-implemented Working time and hybrid working decision [4] (WTHW) [2] setting out the proposed ‘new normal’ is a ‘one size fits all’ plan. Note that even clothes labelling seldom uses this term now: it is more often seen as ‘one size fits most’, which is effectively what we have here [3]. Generation 2004 has been raising the Luxembourg core-time question since the WTHW text first specified a version of core time (‘available-for-interaction-with-colleagues time’) within the ‘availability bandwidth’: June 2021 [5], and we did so again in social dialogues 11.10.2021 (question 11 [6]) and 28.10.2021 (question 11 [7]).
HR have responded as follows,
- ‘we’re aware of it and will address it’ (October 2021),
- ‘it will be up to directors-general to decide’ (February 2022)
- ‘this isn’t an issue, it will continue as before’ (last week).
So, it’s still not clear whether those working in DGT, Eurostat, CNECT, DIGIT, EAC, MOVE/ENER, ESTAT, OIL, OP, PMO and DG SANTE will be able to continue to finish at 16:00 in the future, when the WTHW decision is implemented.
Have any of you received information on what your DG intends to do on this matter? Does this issue have the potential to impact your routine? Can you still do what you normally do at lunchtime and after work regardless of which core time your DG uses?
Please let us know [8]! We’d like to use concrete examples when raising this issue to HR in the future!
Context:
WTHW Version 4 (and beyond) reinstates a version of core hours (Version 2 of the text removed it). ‘Within this bandwidth, staff should be available for interaction with other colleagues between 9:30–12:00 and 15:00–16:30 [4]: this corresponds to Brussels core time, with no provision made for the exceptions (‘derogations’) already in place.
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[1] *update 07.03.2022 15th edition of the teleworking guidelines [9] replaced version 14 [10] (distributed late 17.02.2022 and taking effect from 21.02.2022). Note that the now 2 days of presence in the office is pro rata for part-time staff (see footnote 3 in the guidelines).* For those of you already in or soon moving to open-plan/hot-desking environments, check out the issues we’re listed in our corresponding article [11]: how many of them have you experienced?
[2] There is a more recent version of this document, but it is not yet available on MyIntracomm. Generation 2004 wanted to continue to negotiate this text [12], but did not get enough support to continue. Note that there will still be a negotiation on rules on how to implement the decision; we will continue to mention this.
[3] 66.5% of staff work in Brussels and 11.5% in Luxembourg (HR Key figures, 2021 [13])
[4] Update 23.02.2022: thanks to the colleagues who spotted our error and told us about it! Brussels core time is indeed 9:30–12:00 and 15:00–16:30 and not 9:30–12:00 and 14:00–16:30. Thanks again!