Generation 2004 continues to closely monitor the developments related to the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on our institution and our working conditions. In the last two weeks we have had two meetings with DG HR to discuss all the issues related to the pandemic and the way forward. Generation 2004 stated that the return should only happen when the pandemic situation improved: when there was a lower possibility of contagion. Continue reading COVID-19: Return to office put on hold
While we hope that our readers will never need a psychotherapist, the sad reality is that a certain number of colleagues need to consult them. However, there are some points to consider when choosing a therapist as regards subsequent reimbursement by JSIS.
Firstly and importantly, a psychotherapy needs prior approval [1]. If you start the therapy sessions before having obtained the prior approval, JSIS will not reimburse these sessions. Even if the prior approval is finally granted, JSIS will only reimburse sessions that happened after the prior approval! Continue reading Avoiding surprises with JSIS when choosing a psychotherapist
Generation 2004 is organising a coaching laboratory on burnout prevention and well-being, in collaboration with a colleague with experience in this field.
*Update 16.12.2025: Unfortunately, this repayment does not apply to the children of those in EU Delegations or in agencies [UPDATE: HR to correct this discrimination]
Closing date for applications (and reapplications!) is 15 November 2020.
Even where a child is not attending a European School, there are still circumstances where the Commission can contribute to the education costs (primary and secondary levels), such as where the reason for the child attending another school is educational difficulties, timing concerns or geographical issues: check out the application form for specifics. Continue reading Approaching deadline: don’t miss out on Commission repayment of exceptional education costs
Attention all parents! For the education allowance we now have specific minimum measurements for what qualifies as full-time attendance at an educational establishment: check out whether and how this affects you!
Why is this significant?
The payment of the education allowance is dependent on children’s ‘regular full-time attendance’, without specifying the number of hours or credits required to meet this criteria. Continue reading ‘Full-time attendance at an educational establishment’: what counts?
After a good, albeit strange summer break, the Generation 2004 newsletter is back.
In this issue we will report on the reply we got on a note we sent to DG INGESTAD where we raised concerns over negative discrimination against Contract Agents and ASTs who were not allowed to participate in the recently launched internal competitions. As it turns out… as usual… we were “wrong” and there is no such thing as discrimination in the Commission… On a loosely related topic, we have analysed the participation and inclusion, or lack thereof, of JRC AST colleagues into the AD certification exercise for ASTs. Yet again, absolutely no discrimination, which, in this instance, actually generates discrimination itself…
We also keep covering the CHAFEA debacle and the potential for the huge brain drain that may result from the undergoing relocation of the Executive Agency’s services to Brussels.
To end on a more positive note we will also cover the recent introduction of a national-insurance card for colleagues in the Netherlands and finally we cover the European Mobility week‘s most famous feature: its car-free Sunday, with an emphasis on how it happened in Brussels!
This is all for now and more will come soon, meanwhile, enjoy the reading!
European Mobility Week, the flagship EU awareness raising campaign promoting sustainable ways of moving around in our cities, has come to an end. Despite difficult (Coronavirus…) times, almost 3000 towns and cities from 52 countries worldwide have participated! Continue reading European Mobility Week 2020
In early July, following the announcement of an internal Administrator (AD5) competition tailored only to temporary agents, Generation 2004 addressed a note on Contract Agents’ and Assistants’ access to internal competitions to the Director-General of DG HR, Gertrud Ingestad.
At the same time, we also launched a petition in support of contract agents [1]. Continue reading Contract Agents’ and Assistants’ access to internal competitions: Reply by Director-General Ingestad
So far, only one third of our remaining colleagues from the Consumers, Health, Agriculture and Food Executive Agency (Chafea) have declared their intention to move with their job to Brussels. This leaves two thirds to either change their mind or find an alternative and the clock is ticking (the 2-month deadline for staff to make a decision is fast approaching: accept the transfer or refuse?). Continue reading CHAFEA risking massive loss of expertise
The numbers speak an unmistakable language. The success rate of JRC ASTs in the certification procedure is considerably below that of ASTs from other DGs. While JRC’s ASTs accounted for approximately 9.5% of all ASTs in the Commission in 2019 [1], henceforth considered to be the benchmark, their share of certifications is much lower and persistently so (Figure 1): Except for a one-off-high in 2016 with a share of 7% (although still below 9.5%), the share of certifications in other years was much lower. Continue reading Certification in the JRC – one size does not fit all
