Newsletter – 2023-05-10

Newsletter editorial – 10-05-2023

Editorial, Newsletter - 2023-05-10 Print This Post

Welcome to the sixth edition of the Generation 2004 newsletter of 2023. Following up on our February article, how much do you know about how the Investigation and Disciplinary Office of the Commission (IDOC) works in practice? In this edition we also share our concerns on guardless fingerprint access to Commission buildings out of hours. We query the reasoning behind colleagues being asked to request national allowances when there are equivalent institution allowances available and highlight some additional services offered by some welcome offices.

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!

No EU allowances unless you first try elsewhere

Newsletter - 2023-05-10, PMO, Services, Working conditions Print This Post

It’s always nice to get financial support (e.g. family allowances), and some of us can get it from either our institution or a national authority.  While this is a fortunate situation, it is quite clear that you should not be paid twice for the same request, whether that is for your medical expenses or allowances for your children. The staff regulations are quite clear in this respect, and we all have to declare any allowances received from national sources (check out our IDOC article).

Continue reading No EU allowances unless you first try elsewhere →

Have you been IDOC(ed)?

Newsletter - 2023-05-10, workplace bullying and harassment Print This Post

*Update 27.08.2024: Check out the the 2023 IDOC report.*

Original article: You have probably already asked yourself: What is IDOC? What is a difference between an administrative inquiry and disciplinary procedure? What are possible sanctions? Will I be treated fairly?

IDOC stands for Investigation and Disciplinary Office of the Commission [1]. (Nearly) everything that the IDOC does is secret. Continue reading Have you been IDOC(ed)? →

Out-of-hours building access (fingerprints and lone working)

Health, Newsletter - 2023-05-10, Working conditions Print This Post

*Update 17.09.2024 we have found a lone-worker procedure from 2017 for Luxembourg.*

*Update 14.03.2024 fingerprints are considered sensitive biometric data and even the European Parliament has been held to account by the EDPS on this.*

Original article: While we’re not enthusiastic about colleagues being in the office overnight or at the weekend, sometimes it might be necessary[1]. Nevertheless, we’d like those who do this to be safe.  On a practical note, please prepare: is your mobile charged, do you have it on you and is there generally a good enough signal? Continue reading Out-of-hours building access (fingerprints and lone working) →

Signature authentication and certified true copies: yes and no

Brussels, Luxembourg, Newsletter - 2023-05-10, Services Print This Post

*Update 04.03.2024 Luxembourg charges removed, see below.*

Original article: In spite of our increasingly digital existence we do sometimes still have to resort to paper-based transactions. Unfortunately, while the Brussels Welcome Office of the European Commission can offer a signature-authentication or certified-true-copy service (almost like a notary!) free of charge, other sites, such as Luxembourg, offer no corresponding service, free or otherwise. The Brussels welcome office even checks rental contracts, great, eh? (For those able to use the service, of course). Continue reading Signature authentication and certified true copies: yes and no →