Leave

Breaking news: You can now combine parental leave with TWA 

diversity & inclusion, Equality, Leave, Newsletter-2025-07-08, Teleworking, teleworking from anywhere, Working conditions Print This Post

*Update 26.08.2025 here’s the new link with instructions on how to encode those TWA days, note that even Blue Book trainees can have 5 days.*

Original article: Generation 2004 is glad to announce that from now on, you can combine any type of leave – including parental leave – with teleworking from outside the place of employment, or teleworking from anywhere (TWA). We particularly thank Mr Quest, the Director-General of HR for his positive reply to our long-standing request
 Continue reading Breaking news: You can now combine parental leave with TWA  →

Summer holiday 2025 checklist (Tips)

building closures, Health, Leave, Newsletter-2025-07-08, Standby duty, Teleworking, Working conditions Print This Post

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) 2025[1]. Read our related article on how these closures undermine that working from home is voluntary.*

Continue reading Summer holiday 2025 checklist (Tips) →

Flexibility days 2025 now available to request

Leave, Newsletter-2025-01-28, Newsletter-2025-03-26, Part-time, Teleworking, Working conditions Print This Post

For those of you keen to plan the year ahead and organising things to look forward to, note that the 2025 flexibility days are already listed and available to request in sysper. These are the three public holidays every year where you[1] can choose to work and have the days back as annual leave[2]. Even if this is not an option for you at the moment, it’s good to know that this possibility exists. Continue reading Flexibility days 2025 now available to request →

Working for free: it’s worse than we thought

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*Update 24.01.2025: You have until Friday 31 January to request the transfer of >12 days of annual leave from 2024 to 2025. Even if your circumstances make this a right, please still request it: don’t miss out!*

Original article: Please use your time for yourself and your own wellbeing! Look below at just how much time colleagues already donate (voluntarily or otherwise) to the Commission and yet it’s still not enough, it’s never enough: there is always more work to be done. Please don’t give your valuable time away for free: there are no rewards and it will become expected of you.

Continue reading Working for free: it’s worse than we thought →

End-of-year checklist 2024

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*Update 19.12.2024 many thanks to the colleague who wrote to clarify that the flu vaccine is no longer reimbursed at 100%.*

Original article: 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 →

10 days of teleworking from outside the place of employment: use them or lose them!

Leave, Newsletter - 2024-12-13, Teleworking, teleworking from anywhere Print This Post

*Update 26.08.2025 here’s the new link with instructions on how to encode those days, note that even Blue Book trainees can have 5 days.*

Original article: It’s been use it or lose it  at the Commission for some time now and the 10 days of teleworking from anywhere (TWA) are an example of this. Article 11 of the March 2022 working time and hybrid working (WTHW) decision gives all staff the right to enjoy up to 10 days of teleworking from outside their normal workplace per year, upon their request, subject to the agreement of the line manager. Continue reading 10 days of teleworking from outside the place of employment: use them or lose them! →

Challenges of unpaid leave for contract agents 

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Are you a contract agent or temporary agent who needs time off and annual leave is not enough? Are you considering applying for unpaid leave? Or perhaps you have submitted a request that was denied? Based on feedback from our members, we are examining the complexities surrounding unpaid leave for personal reasons. 

Continue reading Challenges of unpaid leave for Contract Agents  →

Summer holiday 2024 checklist (Tips)

building closures, Health, Leave, Newsletter - 2024-07-16, Standby duty, Teleworking, Working conditions Print This Post

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.*

Continue reading Summer holiday 2024 checklist (Tips) →

Equivalent of 35 colleagues working for free

Leave, Newsletter - 2024-05-29, Working conditions Print This Post

Each year thousands of colleagues end the year with many unused holidays. The regulations allow the transfer of holidays rights to the next year of up to 12 days.  The rest is lost unless a clear justification is provided.   ‘Use your holiday or lose it‘ is very much in evidence at the Commission. However, do you know how many holidays in total are lost each year? 

Continue reading Equivalent of 35 colleagues working for free →

Flexibility days 2024 now available to request

Leave, Newsletter - 2024-03-15, Part-time, Teleworking, Working conditions Print This Post

*Update 09.03.2024: The 2025 days are also now known: 17 April Maundy Thursday, 18 April Good Friday and 30 May Day after Ascension Day.*

Original article: For those of you keen to plan the year ahead and organising things to look forward to, note that the 2024 flexibility days are now listed and available to request in sysper. These are the three public holidays every year where you can choose to work and have the days back as annual leave [1]. Perhaps this is not an option for you at the moment, but it’s good to know that this possibility exists. Continue reading Flexibility days 2024 now available to request →