Health

Oops … the Commission did it again! Illegal request on private phones

Data Protection, Health, New HR strategy, Newsletter – 2024-04-29, Staff Regulations Reform, Teleworking, Working conditions Print This Post

It’s not even a month since the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) ordered the Commission to suspend illegal personal data flows and we see another such order coming.

Last December, the Commission launched a ‘business continuity’ exercise asking most colleagues (if not all, it was never clear) to provide their private mobile phone numbers to create Signal private messenger groups where they could be contacted for work matters. Continue reading Oops … the Commission did it again! Illegal request on private phones →

TAXUD’s Alarming Decline in Staff Well-being: A Call for Immediate Action

Health, Newsletter – 2024-04-29, Social Dialogue, Surveys, workplace bullying and harassment Print This Post

*Update 06.06.2024: our efforts have paid off.*
The recently published 2023 staff survey results paint a bleak picture of the state of affairs within DG Taxation and Customs Union (TAXUD), particularly concerning the prevention of psychological harassment (‘bullying’ or ‘mobbing’) and sexual harassment. Continue reading TAXUD’s Alarming Decline in Staff Well-being: A Call for Immediate Action →

From culture of trust to control freak

Data Protection, Health, New HR strategy, Newsletter - 2024-04-11, Open Plan Office, Staff Regulations Reform, Teleworking, Working conditions Print This Post

*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 From culture of trust to control freak →

Special categories of personal data (biometric: fingerprints) for building access

Cyber-security, Data Protection, Health, Newsletter - 2024-03-15, Working conditions Print This Post

Fingerprint enrolment (biometric data) of staff for any workplace access is not something that can be done ad hoc. Data-protection legislation (GDPR)[1] states that biometric data is a special category of personal data and subject to specific processing conditions. The European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) raised this very same issue with the European Parliament in 2023[2]. Continue reading Special categories of personal data (biometric: fingerprints) for building access →

Your health: seeking transparency and action

COVID-19, disability and special needs, Health, Newsletter - 2024-02-28, PMO Print This Post

At the last meeting of the Local Staff Committee of Brussels, DG HR shared significant data regarding sickness leave and invalidity. They underlined that some of these data require further analysis which they intend to conduct to clarify reasons why, for example, more women than men are reported sick.   Continue reading Your health: seeking transparency and action →

Your opinion matters – Canteens and Cafeterias – evaluation survey

Brussels, Health, Luxembourg, Newsletter - 2024-02-28, Surveys Print This Post

*Update 17.04.2024 We continue to pursue a canteen-price-reduction scheme for Brussels, like the long-standing one in Luxembourg. We continue to see very limited progress.*

Original article: The wellbeing of European Commission staff is of paramount importance for Generation 2004. Years after the lifting of pandemic restrictions, Continue reading Your opinion matters – Canteens and Cafeterias – evaluation survey →

Updated medical-bill ceilings: a step in the right direction

Complementary coverage, Health, Newsletter - 2023-12-13, Working conditions Print This Post

If you’ve entered the Joint Sickness Insurance Scheme (JSIS) online you will have been greeted with the good news of Higher reimbursement ceilings, broader access to medically assisted reproduction. There was a similar announcement on MyIntracomm AuQuotidien (see the comments below the line for suggestions and additional information). Commission Decision of 17.11.2023 (C(2023) 7673 final) Continue reading Updated medical-bill ceilings: a step in the right direction →

Reimbursed amount = 0 €

Complementary coverage, Health, Newsletter - 2024-01-08, PMO Print This Post

*Update 03.03.2024: the contact number listed on p.2 of the account sheet is out of date, please use number listed here.*

Original article: This can and does happen relatively frequently. First of all, don’t panic! But please do be aware that there is a 3-month time limit[1] on taking a non-reimbursement issue as far as you can before embarking on legal action. Challenging a decision not to reimburse is therefore not an administrative step to save for when you have the time, you really do have to make the time (especially if you need to get a more detailed bill from the health-service provider, for example or investigate whether a precedent has been set for reimbursement). Continue reading Reimbursed amount = 0 € →

Cancer detection: no longer a priority?

Health, Newsletter - 2023-12-01 Print This Post

*Update 17.09.2024 check out the pros and cons of screening: this is the reasoning given behind the decisions below. We also invite you to check the uneven/inequal cancer outcomes observed in Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan.*

Original article: Generation 2004 has heard from several of you concerning your difficulties in navigating the new systems to have screening tests reimbursed at 100%, now that the medical service is no longer providing the so-called ‘bon rose’. That way of authorising specific tests outside the Medical Service was withdrawn in February 2023[1]. Continue reading Cancer detection: no longer a priority? →

End-of-year checklist 2023

building closures, COVID-19, Health, IT kit for telework, Leave, Newsletter - 2023-12-01, Newsletter - 2023-12-13, PMO, Teleworking, Working conditions Print This Post

In response to your feedback from last year, we 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 2023 →