‘voluntold’

Duty Calls: Navigating the Challenges of Standby Duty at EEAS

'voluntold', EEAS, Features, Institutions, Newsletter - 2024-10-28, Standby duty, Working conditions Print This Post

Standby duty sounds straightforward enough — a formal, organised service, available to respond to well-defined emergencies within a specific timeframe. But for many staff, including those in the External Action Service (EEAS), the reality is far from simple. Theoretically, within the EEAS at least, those colleagues on standby duty have access to designated Duty Phones—reliable devices meant to keep them connected during emergencies.

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‘Voluntary’ availability during end-of-year break

'voluntold', Newsletter - 2024-11-15, Standby duty, teleworking from anywhere, Working conditions Print This Post

We are aware of colleagues being asked to ‘voluntarily’[1] declare their availability to ‘ensure business continuity’[2] during the end-of-year stop (23.12.2024-02.01.2025). Given that many staff will already have their laptop with them, whether that’s to use the 10 telework from anywhere (TWA) days, to accommodate the routine building closures at this time of year[3] or to work around cold Offices, it can seem a little predatory to then ask when (not whether) colleagues are available during these rest days for unspecified and as-yet-unmeasured tasks. As though no one would have the intention of filling that time with their own plans!

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The practices must change – Standby duty & use of private phones for business purposes in Delegations

'voluntold', Data Protection, EEAS, EEAS Special Edition Newsletter June 2024, Newsletter - 2024-06-13, Standby duty, Working conditions Print This Post

After we exposed that the European Commission was infringing data protection law, many colleagues, particularly in Delegations, contacted us to share their experiences. They were not only ‘encouraged’ to use their private mobile phones for work purposes, also their standby duty tasks were going too far.  Continue reading The practices must change – Standby duty & use of private phones for business purposes in Delegations →

Conference on standby duty and use of private phones for work purposes in Delegations April 2024

'voluntold', Data Protection, EEAS, Events, Local Agents, Outside the Union Print This Post

Generation 2004 is here for you, regardless of where you are! We would like to invite you to our virtual meeting to discuss standby duty and the use of private phones for work in Delegations. Please participate in any of our three sessions on Monday 22.04.2024. See practical details further below. Check out our corresponding articles and get your questions ready! Continue reading Conference on standby duty and use of private phones for work purposes in Delegations April 2024 →

Work groups on private mobile: voluntary?

'voluntold', Data Protection, New HR strategy, Newsletter - 2023-12-13, Standby duty, Teleworking, Working conditions Print This Post

*Update 12.04.2024: On the processing of personal data: the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) European Commission’s use of Microsoft 365 infringes data protection law for EU institutions and bodies.* Original article: There’s a difference between the right to disconnect as presented in the working time and hybrid working (WTHW) decision and the reality for those being ‘encouraged’ (voluntold/expected)  to join messaging groups on their private mobile for ‘business continuity’. See our recent communication on this topic. The right to disconnect is in the 2022 WTHW decision and also its 2023 evaluation where it is acknowledged that more needs to be done. Continue reading Work groups on private mobile: voluntary? →

“Generation 2004 stands by staff on standby” yet again

'voluntold', Newsletter - 2020-05-14, Standby duty, Working conditions Print This Post

*Update 16.01.2025 unfortunately, we’re unable to find anything written, so this is an unwritten rule, stated in a committee meeting in late 2024. Those of you well enough to work but not well enough to do ‘voluntary’ standby duty (DGT, for example) can be (temporarily) excused from standby: get in touch with the Medical Service. Again, the mental gymnastics needed to continue to insist that this unpaid standby duty is ‘voluntary’. This is especially frustrating when we see that this time doesn’t even count towards the time already ‘gifted‘ to the Commission (which we believe to be the tip of the iceberg.

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Generation 2004 stands by staff on standby

'voluntold', Newsletter #37 - Sep 2019, Standby duty Print This Post

Are you sometimes asked to be available to work at short notice at night, at the weekend or during a holiday? If so, are you getting the right pay?  Standby duty is a service when you guarantee to be available to work at short notice outside of the normal Commission working hours: Monday to Friday from 07.00 until 20.00.

Note that standby duty is being available to work.  Actual work outside of normal working hours is called ‘out of hours work’ and is treated differently. Continue reading Generation 2004 stands by staff on standby →