In response to your feedback we try to send this list out a bit earlier in order to give you time to take action. We encourage you to do what you can now in order to be able to use the end-of-year period to rest and to recharge your batteries. This is not an opportunity to get work done! Please, as far as you can, switch off your devices, mute notifications and disconnect: take the time for you. Continue reading End-of-year checklist 2024
Health
Why you don’t have to wait for retirement to pursue your dreams
*Update 27/11/2024, here is the recording and the slides* Lunchtime event with inspiring guest speakerGudrun Mahlberg.
Are you dreaming of exploring your passions and creating a life that truly fulfills you? The story of Gudrun Mahlberg, a visionary entrepreneur, serves as a powerful inspiration.
Continue reading Why you don’t have to wait for retirement to pursue your dreams
ISPRA : Access to Health Care in Italy – Sick of Waiting
Equal and unrestricted access to affordable health care services – this is a prime objective and a non-negotiable right for all Commission staff and all Joint sickness insurance scheme (JSIS) affiliates irrespective of nationality. Yet this right is increasingly being compromised for the Ispra staff and their families, who are not in possession of the national health insurance card, the tessera sanitaria.
Continue reading ISPRA : Access to Health Care in Italy – Sick of Waiting
JSIS special reimbursement: send us your experiences!
JSIS special reimbursement (Article 72(3) [1]) calculations will be sent automatically, can you verify? The rules say it can happen, but has it ever happened? Witnesses please! We can find no figures and we need your help! So, any colleagues out there who have (or have had) heavy medical expenses, have you ever received an information note listing non-reimbursed expenditure over the previous 36 months and informing you of your potential eligibility for additional special reimbursement? Please get in touch! Continue reading JSIS special reimbursement: send us your experiences!
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
Health screening: hoops to jump through
We’re all well used to jumping through administrative hoops within the institutions. When hoop-jumping becomes an Olympic sport we fully expect the Commission to be on the podium. In the meantime, we have observed that the hoops related to the new health screening programme appear to have been made just a little more difficult than necessary. Continue reading Health screening: hoops to jump through
Are interpreters being listened to?
New technologies do not always bring benefits for everybody. One of the collateral victims of more digitalisation are interpreters. The job of an Interpreter was already difficult in the “old” days of meetings in situ, with interpreters working from booths in the conference room where delegates negotiated EU policies.
Lunchtime conference with guest speakers: My Safety – Understanding and Addressing Urban Violence in Brussels
*update 28.06.2024, the Recording and presentation are available (NB: in *.Zip format). Brussels, the heart of Europe, is a vibrant city but like many cities (big and small), it faces challenges related to urban violence. Recently, incidents of violence in Brussels have become a growing concern affecting the safety and well-being of our staff and our citizens
Summer holiday 2024 checklist (Tips)
For those of you who remain in the office keeping the Commission standing (thanks!), please check out the heatwave instructions for dealing with hot offices and the list of buildings to be temporarily closed under Buildings Energy Saving Together (BEST) 2024[1]. Read our related article on how these closures undermine that working from home is voluntary.*
TAXUD’s Alarming Decline in Staff Well-being: Our efforts have paid off!
In our article of 10 April 2024, Generation 2004 had raised concerns about well-being of staff in DG TAXUD and proposed many actions to enhance our colleagues’ working conditions. We are happy to announce that our efforts have contributed to draw the attention of Senior Management on the issue. Continue reading TAXUD’s Alarming Decline in Staff Well-being: Our efforts have paid off!
