It is one thing for management to want and aspire to be a modern employer and to talk about flexitime, teleworking, green policies, gender balance for management roles, equality, zero tolerance for harassment; and another thing completely when we see the brutal realities now. Continue reading Wake-up call for the administration – Voter apathy and low voter turnout in the LSC elections for outside the Union
Outside the Union
How should Teleworking evolve in Delegations after Covid?
Many of you wonder, since there is no legal basis for teleworking in Delegations, what will happen when the pandemic is over?
Will we still have Teleworking in Delegations?
Will we finally follow the rest of the Commission: teleworking has already been in force in Headquarters and other EU sites for more than 10 years! Continue reading How should Teleworking evolve in Delegations after Covid?
Do you think harassment or bad managerial behaviour improved in 2020?
The mediation service has published its 2020 annual report showing that the number of cases reported is much lower compared to previous year(s). One cannot help but wonder: is that because harassment/bad managerial behaviour really improved, is it because colleagues are fed up with the ineffectiveness of the available harassment fighting procedures, or is it simply a partial story: it does not show how many cases never started because the other side refused to engage. (Yes, mediation is voluntary and the mediation service can do nothing when only one side is willing.) Continue reading Do you think harassment or bad managerial behaviour improved in 2020?
2021 is a year of elections
This is an unprecedented year of continuous elections! Six of the eight local staff committees (LSCs) across the Commission are about to have or have just finished their 3-yearly elections [1]. This is due to the Covid pandemic delaying various elections and now those elections are all happening more or less at the same time. Continue reading 2021 is a year of elections
Hybrid teleworking in delegation – how is it implemented?
Generation 2004 has taken the initiative to survey around 40 delegations and the feedback shows that nearly 25% of respondents have either no, or close to no, possibility of teleworking. While teleworking has been an effective mode of work since 2009 [1] for Brussels and other EU workplaces, there is still, as of today (12 years later!) not even a draft decision for teleworking for delegations. Continue reading Hybrid teleworking in delegation – how is it implemented?
Deadline extension: LA employment-conditions reform
Generation 2004 is glad to inform you that the deadline for Local agents to decide whether they would like to accept the new Local Agent conditions is now extended to 31 December 2021.
If you wish to have any questions, please feel free to contact us. Continue reading Deadline extension: LA employment-conditions reform
UPDATE on teleworking in delegations – adapting work practice to a new reality
Generation 2004 wish to update you on teleworking in EU Delegations.
In January 2018, the European External Action Service (EEAS) started a teleworking pilot project in four Delegations. This was possible also thanks to the proactive role of Generation 2004 members who worked closely with the EEAS and the Commission (‘COM’) on this file. By the end of 2019, the number of Delegations covered by teleworking increased from 4 to 24 (out of 143 Delegations and offices). In the pilot phase, colleagues had the opportunity to apply for occasional teleworking, subject to the approval of their hierarchy. Some Delegations have excluded local agents (LA) assistants and secretaries which is an issue of concern to be addressed. Continue reading UPDATE on teleworking in delegations – adapting work practice to a new reality
Local agent employment-conditions reform
*Deadline extended to 31 December 2021*
Here are updates and the review process of the salary-revision decision. Subsequent to the conclusion of the social dialogue for the local agent (LA) employment conditions, which should replace the Framework Rules, all LA colleagues will have until 30 June 2021 to decide whether to sign the package of conditions. If you have any questions or need any assistance, you can contact Generation 2004. Continue reading Local agent employment-conditions reform
The same electoral rules for all!
Uniform and fully democratic electoral rules throughout the Commission, synchronised electronic elections at all sites and, last but not least, a separate local staff committee (LSC) for Seville: these are the key elements of a proposal for staff-representation reform developed by Generation 2004. We have been raising these issues in one form or another since at least 2013 and have actively led on related efforts to address these three points on several occasions. Continue reading The same electoral rules for all!
How do those outside the Union get reimbursed for PCR tests?
Generation 2004 is aware that sometimes colleagues are unsure which polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests are eligible for reimbursement and which ones are not; especially with the upcoming Easter holiday.
Those covered by the Joint Sickness Insurance Scheme (JSIS): you can refer to the specific guidelines for detail for all cases, but, in short, PCR tests done by national authorities and approved laboratories can be reimbursed by the JSIS. Continue reading How do those outside the Union get reimbursed for PCR tests?