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Special leave for volunteering: it’s one day PER YEAR!

crisis-response action, Leave, Newsletter - 2022-03-16, Outside the Union, Ukraine 2022 Print This Post

*Update 17.04.2024 We asked for the exceptional 5 days for volunteering to help with those affected by the war in Ukraine be made available for those volunteering to help civilians caught up in wars elsewhere.*

Original article: Generation 2004 clarifies the options available for volunteering in response to colleagues who have reached out to us for details. As mentioned on How to help Ukraine[1], special leave is available in sysper for volunteering. That means that you can volunteer and still be paid your full wage at the end of the month: great, right?[2] Continue reading Special leave for volunteering: it’s one day PER YEAR! →

Generation 2004 requests assistance be provided to Kyiv Delegation colleagues

Local Agents, Newsletter - 2022-03-16, Outside the Union, Ukraine 2022 Print This Post

Upon request, teleworking in Ukraine and abroad has been made available also for local agents by the latest Admin decision (2022)20.  For the time being this arrangement will be for 3 months, we will closely monitor the situation and the requests for extensions where applicable and necessary.

Since the onset of the Russian invasion of Ukraine (24.02.2022) Generation2004 has actively been in touch with local agents and we are aware that all expat colleagues have been successfully evacuated to locations outside the country.  For local agents, Generation 2004 requested the following: Continue reading Generation 2004 requests assistance be provided to Kyiv Delegation colleagues →

Luxembourg: transport infrastructure will be lovely … once it’s finished!

commuting, Health, Luxembourg, Mobility and Climate, Newsletter - 2022-03-16, return to the office-new normal Print This Post

*Update 09.09.2024: The state subsidies for the purchase of a personal means of transport have been extended.* We have the perfect spring transport storm for some of you: trains, roads, trams and back to the office 2 days a week[1]. The infrastructure work is ongoing all over but the benefits will not be felt for a while. Let’s start with cross-border travel.

Firstly France: work on the A3, the main France-Luxembourg road, has just started this week and is set to last for 5 years in total, so in early 2027, Continue reading Luxembourg: transport infrastructure will be lovely … once it’s finished! →

Rule of law – We demand the EEAS talk the talk and walk the walk

Local Agents, Newsletter - 2022-03-16, Outside the Union Print This Post

*Update 29.09.2022 Local Agents in Turkey are now being paid in euro, thank you all for your support!* Generation2004 stands in solidarity with local agent colleagues in Turkey. We expresses our extreme concern on continued EU non-compliance with the 2021 court ruling concerning the payment of local agents there. The European External Action Service (EEAS), specifically the Delegation of the European Union to Turkey, has again been told that its unilateral insistence on paying local staff Turkish lira (TRY) and not in Euro is a violation of the rules (Republic of Turkey,  Court of Cassation, 9th Civil Chamber Case No:2021/5672 Order No:2021/11022). Continue reading Rule of law – We demand the EEAS talk the talk and walk the walk →

Launch of the evaluation process for EEAS local agents

Local Agents, Newsletter - 2022-03-16, Outside the Union, Promotions, workplace bullying and harassment Print This Post

It is now the turn of our European External Action Service (EEAS) local agent colleagues to have their annual evaluation. We’re here for you! See the recommendations in our  presentation (from slide 8 onwards) for how to write your evaluation text and our article on the corresponding dialogue to get an idea of what to highlight and how. As usual, we offer one-on-one sessions to help colleagues by reviewing their self-assessments. Continue reading Launch of the evaluation process for EEAS local agents →

Newsletter editorial – 22-02-2022

Editorial, Newsletter - 2022-02-22 Print This Post

Welcome to the Generation 2004 Newsletter. We continue on the topic of the career development review (CDR) process with a look at the options available in response to an evaluation of ‘unsatisfactory’: we’re here for you! Career development is also one of the issues we raised in our contract agent petition: it is with the European Parliament, please sign it (again)!

We warmly thank all of you who voted in this last year, particularly those of you who voted for us! Generation 2004 presents the results of the most recent election: Brussels and representations. We also present the mixed messages on the working time and hybrid working decision concerning the core time used by many DGs in Luxembourg. Does this affect you? Please remember too (particularly those who’ve seen utilities and accommodation increase in price) that our Survey on rise in energy bills for those working from home is still open, please participate!

Generation 2004 is again recruiting! We have an opening for a secretary to join our team.  We would also like anyone in delegations who is interested in getting involved in elections there to get in touch.

We continue to offer training and events: there are new training dates for those planning to retire soon. And any of you finding yourselves in Brussels or Luxembourg (even just for a day!), come for a walk with us; let’s get outside and away from our screens!

So, that’s it for this edition, thanks to all of you for your support, ideas and feedback: please keep it coming! If there’s a topic you’d like to see us tackle, whether as an article or as an event, please get in touch!

Take care, stay healthy and enjoy reading!

Core time in Luxembourg: mixed messages

Luxembourg, New HR strategy, Newsletter - 2022-02-22, return to the office-new normal, Social Dialogue, Working conditions Print This Post

*Update 14.09.2022: OP and ESTAT requested and received exceptions (‘derogations’) similar to those they had previously.*

So, we’re back to work again for an obligatory one day a week [1]: this is all very similar to the last time this happened, in September 2021. The core time for DGT, Eurostat, CNECT, DIGIT, EAC, MOVE/ENER, ESTAT, OIL, OP, PMO and DG SANTE in Luxembourg remains as it was, at least for the moment: no changes there … so far. The issue is that the soon-to-be-implemented Working time and hybrid working decision  (WTHW) [2] setting out the proposed ‘new normal’ is a ‘one size fits all’ plan. Continue reading Core time in Luxembourg: mixed messages →

Generation 2004 is hiring a 100%-of-full-time Secretary at the European Commission in Brussels

Contract Agents, Newsletter - 2022-02-22, Vacancy Print This Post

*update 22.02.2022, deadline shortened, sorry! closing date for applications is now 2 March 2022 18.00 (CET/Brussels)* We have gained additional secretarial support thanks to the recent elections and thanks to all of you who voted, especially those who voted for us! Those of you who applied in January: we will be in touch to see whether you want to be considered also for a 100% post: you shouldn’t resubmit your application.

Continue reading Generation 2004 is hiring a 100%-of-full-time Secretary at the European Commission in Brussels →

‘Unsatisfactory’ in the CDR? What now?

disability and special needs, Newsletter - 2022-02-22, Promotions, reclassification, workplace bullying and harassment Print This Post

*Update 15.01.2024, the option to reuse the text from last evaluation means that the chat still takes place, but that there is no new written input possible from you or your line manager.*

Original article: You’ve done your best and it’s been a tough year. You’ve had your appraisal dialogue and prepared as best you could. In spite of it all, the evaluation is ‘Unsatisfactory’. What happens now? Firstly, don’t panic! Read everything you can (see list below) and act quickly: the career development review (CDR) can be refused (appealed) [1] but the deadlines are short and if nothing is done, the CDR is by default accepted. Continue reading ‘Unsatisfactory’ in the CDR? What now? →

Project 55+ transition towards retirement 2022

Events, Newsletter - 2022-02-22, Part-time, Pensions, Training Print This Post

Want to start imagining and planning your transition towards retirement – but not sure how to do it? This is no longer a destination, but a journey.

Project 55+ is a practical 5-week community experience that will help you create, discover, refine and implement your transition project, during your final years at the Commission/EU Institutions, towards a successful new beginning that is uniquely yours. Continue reading Project 55+ transition towards retirement 2022 →