The 2022/23 Certification exercise is still moving forward: from 294 eligible candidates to 104 individuals chosen for Joint Certification Panel interviews, to the April publication of the final list of 50 officials authorised to take part in the Certification training programme (the list will be published in Administrative Notices, in 2022 it was done on 12 April) and subsequent exams[1]. Well done to the 32 colleagues who appealed their non-inclusion post-DG interview, 4 of whom were successful: it is possible! Unfortunately, Certification continues to be a labour-intensive and time-consuming process which is not particularly user-friendly (see diagram for evidence of this). Continue reading Certification 2022/23: the road ahead
Newsletter – 2023-03-30
Council request to further reduce spending on staff II
*Updated 07.08.2023 in response to feedback, thanks! See footnotes*
Original article: Generation 2004 is closely following this latest Council request to further reducing spending on staff (Budget 2024: Council agrees on its guidelines for the establishment of next year’s EU budget, 14.03.2023, see quote below). The Commission appears to have provisionally lost 75 posts, the only institution to have lost any posts (Draft General Budget of the European Union for the financial year 2023, Working Document Part II, 2022, p. 67) Continue reading Council request to further reduce spending on staff II
Newsletter editorial – 30-03-2023
Welcome to the fourth Generation 2004 Newsletter of 2023. The revision of the first draft of the new anti-harassment package is finished: we eagerly await the updated draft to see how much of our collective input has been included. We highlight the recent administrative notice regarding pension calculations for those seconded at their own request: make sure you know how this affects you. Generation 2004 comments on the (repeated) Council request to reduce spending on staff. Have a look at the flexibility days now available in sysper: you can choose work these 3 days in exchange for annual leave. The final list of the 50 colleagues selected to follow the AST certification training will be published soon: we list your options. Some 800 more colleagues will move to dynamic, collaborative space (DCS) at the new POST-Mercier building but at least it’s not hot-desking, right? We look at the minimum wage changes for Luxembourg, why is the expatriation allowance used to exclude colleagues from the uplift? Generation 2004 encourages to you exercise your rights inside and outside the Commission: those in Luxembourg, please register to vote in the municipal elections. On the topic of Luxembourg, we lament the lack of action on the 12 actions announced 1 year ago to address the difficulties in recruiting and retaining staff.
So, that’s it for this this edition, thanks to all of you for your support, ideas and feedback: please keep it coming!
Take care and enjoy reading!
Seconded at your own request? Be aware of changes to your pension contribution
If you are seconded (French: ‘détachés’/ Franglais: ‘detached’) at your own request (i.e. not in the interest of the service) to another institution or to an agency, then this article is for you and concerns your pension rights. Everybody else can safely skip to another article of this newsletter (but of course, feel free to read on if you are curious 😊). Continue reading Seconded at your own request? Be aware of changes to your pension contribution
The new anti-harassment package: status
On Friday 24 March 2023 we had the last social dialogue (SD) meeting to finalise the revising of the first draft of the new Commission Decision on the prevention of and fight against sexual and psychological harassment. It’s been two intense months! HR shared the first draft of the new anti-harassment framework on 21 December 2022 (15:17 on the second-last working day of the year), with the corresponding SD starting 12 January 2023. The OSPs and the administration/HR had almost weekly meetings of around 2 hours to discuss this draft decision article by article. Continue reading The new anti-harassment package: status
Minimum wage in Luxembourg for contract agents – finally a glimmer of hope
*Update 01.09.2023: the social minimum wage for Luxembourg is now 3085.11 EUR gross (or 2570.93 EUR for unskilled workers).**Update: see our June article on the good example being set by the Parliament.* Original article: Many colleagues struggle today with the high level of inflation and the increased costs of living. But already before the current economic crisis, the situation was difficult for colleagues in Luxembourg with a low salary. While money can’t buy happiness, it does certainly help: Luxembourg’s levels of happiness have also fallen. Luxembourg has the highest minimum wage in Europe, with a minimum of 2 936.48 EUR for qualified workers (as of 1 February 2023 – the corresponding inflation index has a value of 898.93 points and 100 points equal an amount of 326.66 EUR). Continue reading Minimum wage in Luxembourg for Contract Agents – finally a glimmer of hope
Municipal elections in Luxembourg – get registered if you want to vote
Have your say on Luxembourg! Whether it’s to do with the never-ending road works, public screenings of sports events or pedestrian safety. Municipal elections are coming in Luxembourg Sunday, 11 June 2023 (08.00-14.00), most colleagues living in Luxembourg can choose who will be their 27 municipal councillors for the next 6 years. Here are the current 27. The conditions to participate are lightweight (and you can be a candidate, too!): Continue reading Municipal elections in Luxembourg – get registered if you want to vote
100% hot-desking at the new POST-Mercier building
*Update 17.09.2024 anything non-IT that’s broken can be reported by email/phonecall.*
*Update 21.02.2024 OP staff can request noise-cancelling headphones.*
Original article: It is confirmed that the new POST-Mercier building will be the first Commission building to be 100% ‘dynamic and collaborative’. Phew! At least it’s not hot-desking, right? Unfortunately, this is indeed hot-desking albeit (here at least) in a limited fashion. It is first come, first served within the area assigned to your team: Continue reading 100% hot-desking at the new POST-Mercier building
Flexibility days 2023 now available to request
Friday 19.05.2023 is still available. For those of you keen to plan the year ahead and organising things to look forward to, note that the 2023 flexibility days are now listed on MyIntracomm 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 2023 now available to request
One year on, what’s happening with the 12 actions for Luxembourg?
*Update 09.10.2023 it’s estimated that 76% of those considered eligible for state aid with rent have not taken advantage of it: please don’t miss out!**Update 28.06.2023: no mention of the 12 actions in the 9 Corporate Management Board meetings since the last update (September 2022). No published output found for interinstitutional taskforce on hospital pricing (expected end 2022). We’re following up with the Local Staff Committee.*
Original article: We’ve been following the 12 actions to address the difficulties of recruiting staff in Luxembourg since they were announced 30.03.2022 Continue reading One year on, what’s happening with the 12 actions for Luxembourg?
