The mental health and well-being of children in European Schools (ESS) should be a top priority for the European Schools as well as for the European institutions. Nevertheless, many parents within our community have raised serious concerns about the lack of psychological support, insufficient supervision, and how the system fails to address emotional distress among students. Continue reading Protecting Our Children’s Mental Health: Urgent Reforms Needed in European Schools
Childcare
Brussels Childcare Colleagues: Essential role in shaping our children’s development
Generation 2004 is keeping an eye on the ongoing issues at the interinstitutional after-school childcare for the children of staff. The After-school childcare Brussels (Accueil Pédagogique Post-Scholaire (APPS)) is marred by significant issues affecting a part of its staff, who are undervalued and underpaid despite their crucial roles.
Continue reading Brussels Childcare Colleagues: Essential role in shaping our children’s development
Lunchtime conference with inspiring guest speakers
Update 18.04.2024. Here is the presentation of the conference.
Original article: Get ready for an exciting launch of Generation 2004 lunchtime conferences, featuring inspiring guest speakers on diverse topics!Are you a woman navigating the challenges of parenthood alone ? Are you a woman victim of post-separation violence? To kick off the series, we focus on women who are lone parents and on women exposed to violence Continue reading Lunchtime conference with inspiring guest speakers
Belgian tax certificate: childcare costs for 2023
*Deadline extended to Friday 19.01.2024* Parents in Belgium: if you are in a household subject to Belgian taxation and you wish to benefit from the tax reduction in accordance with Belgian legislation you need to request this via MyIntracomm, it is not automatic. Please don’t miss out on what you’re entitled to! Continue reading Belgian tax certificate: childcare costs for 2023
5 more days for parents, with a catch …
*Update 26.09.2024: we’re still unable to find any mention of these 5 additional days on staff matters, they don’t appear to be available via sysyper either. We’ve asked staff contact for info and we’ll share it with you here.*
Original article: In November 2022 Generation 2004 asked the Commission to match the updated paternity-leave provision from Belgium: 20 days of paternity leave[1], instead of the current 10. Continue reading 5 more days for parents, with a catch …
Grange childcare follow up
*Update 06.12.2023: here are building closures and alternatives in Brussels, but we don’t (yet) see equivalent information for other places of work e.g. Grange or Luxembourg. Remember you have the right to work from the office 100% if you so wish (and you are prepared for the temperatures there).* Continue reading Grange childcare follow up
Grange childcare: loss of trust!
The European Commission has many sites, some bigger ones, like Brussels, Luxembourg and Ispra, some smaller ones like the smaller JRC sites (Karlsruhe, Geel, Seville) or the satellite site in Grange, Ireland (technically part of Brussels) – home to directorate F (‘Health and food audits and analysis’) of DG SANTE and some colleagues from DGT – not to forget the support staff from the different offices. Continue reading Grange childcare: loss of trust!
Changes to financial rights after a breakup, does this affect you?
*Update 31.03.2023 Revised Conclusion No 283/20 – Determination and payment of financial entitlements under the staff regulations in the event of dissolution of a marriage or partnership, or termination of a de facto relationship: This Conclusion cancels and replaces Conclusions 3/77, 38/79, 111/85, 131/86, 220/04, 222/04 and 283/20.* The recently adopted Conclusion No 283/20 Determination and payment of financial entitlements under the Staff Regulations in the event of dissolution of a marriage or partnership, or termination of a de facto relationship [1] sets out the updated information. Check whether this affects you. Continue reading Changes to financial rights after a breakup, does this affect you?
The future: no more lunch in Commission buildings
If you were fantasising about returning to the office one day and resuming the usual lunch with colleagues [1], think again!
The new L107 (the ONE, Brussels), apparently the role model for all Commission buildings in the very near future – will not have a canteen, even though it will house more than 1500 staff – indeed, such a large number of people would fully justify the presence of a canteen. So, it seems that with the ‘new normal’, everybody who wants to eat in this showpiece Commission building will be treated to the following choice: either try to run faster than the others to get a spot at the – very small! – cafeteria in the building or lose a lot of precious time to go to possibly overcrowded canteens in other buildings. Continue reading The future: no more lunch in Commission buildings
New teleworking scheme: longer working days and more micromanagement?
*Update 27.02.2025: the question of whether managers can/should use Teams/Skype or other status as an indication of your presence/availability has been raised repeatedly, particularly given that you might have a different status on each platform. Check out question 14 of the flexible working FAQs for written confirmation that this is not their intended use and that status is not a reliable indicator of presence or non-presence.* Continue reading New teleworking scheme: longer working days and more micromanagement?
