Generation 2004 held a lunchtime conference on the 20th of September.
You can find the recorded video and the PowerPoint presentation here.
We gave a short update on the below matters.
Working conditions
End of the solidarity levy?
Every once in a while, and with increasing frequency in the run-up to its stated end date, we here at Generation 2004 receive a request for clarification about the solidarity levy. This ostensibly temporary measure is 6% of the basic salary (but 7% for those in AD15(2) and above: here are the salary scales for your to check that impact).
Grange childcare: loss of trust!
The European Commission has many sites, some bigger ones, like Brussels, Luxembourg and Ispra, some smaller ones like the smaller JRC sites (Karlsruhe, Geel, Seville) or the satellite site in Grange, Ireland (technically part of Brussels) – home to directorate F (‘Health and food audits and analysis’) of DG SANTE and some colleagues from DGT – not to forget the support staff from the different offices. Continue reading Grange childcare: loss of trust!
LACC canteen closed permanently, what’s next?
The Commission continues to make savings, this time by permanently closing both the childcare facilities in Grange, Ireland and LACC canteen in Luxembourg. We’ve already mentioned the short-notice permanent closure of the Hitec (HTC) building at the end of 2022 and the short-notice change of the newest Commission building (MERP) from open space to hot-desking in open space ‘dynamic, collaborative space (DCS)’ just as staff moved in (March 2023). Continue reading LACC canteen closed permanently, what’s next?
Interim staff at the Commission: FAQs
Here are some Generation 2004 frequently asked questions (FAQs)[1] and sources on interims, those temporary colleagues who are often expected to be up to speed and functional within a very short space of time. This can often translate in real life as having been ‘thrown in at the deep end’ and expected to ‘hit the ground running’ without much information about how things really work. Continue reading Interim staff at the Commission: FAQs
Follow-up survey on teleworking, hybrid working and TWA
*Update 09.08.2023 please declare the TWA days you use! See footnote [*] for how and why.* Original article: We ask you to participate in a follow-up survey about teleworking, hybrid working and teleworking from outside the place of employment (TWA) in order to make a comparison with the answers you provided to our two original surveys: Working time and teleworking (and the results) and Survey on teleworking from abroad. Continue reading Follow-up survey on teleworking, hybrid working and TWA
Harassment package: next steps
We provide an update on the new anti-harassment package. We had a political consultation with Commissioner Hahn on 12.07.2023, concluding the series of the social dialogue meetings (started January 2023 [1]) to draft the new decision on the prevention of and fight against psychological[2] and sexual harassment. This last meeting underlined the political will and the commitment to make a difference regarding the anti-harassment package, which text of which will now be submitted for decision. Continue reading Harassment package: next steps
Time for the Commission to address the cost of living
Generation 2004 requested DG HR open a formal negotiation (social dialogue) right after the summer break on measures to tackle the effects of inflation. The one which has been on the table the longest is the need to compensate in some way the additional costs of teleworking: this is one that we have repeatedly made noise about (most recently 07.11.2022 and 30.11.2022, but at least since 27.04.2020). Thanks to the social dialogue, the provision is there for this to happen (Working Time and Hybrid Working (WTHW), Article 13(4)), but is there any willingness to make it happen? Continue reading Time for the Commission to address the cost of living
The institutions implement the Picard judgement – sort of … FAQ
*Update 06.09.2023 Check out this (Brussels) event for anyone who has made pension contributions in Germany.* Original article: In April, we informed you during a lunchtime conference about the judgement in the Picard case and its far-reaching consequences for (former) contract agents (CAs) and temporary agents (TAs) or more precisely: staff that were previously covered by the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants (CEOS).
While the judgement is one of (very few) positive events in recent years for temporary staff, Continue reading The institutions implement the Picard judgement – sort of … FAQ
Teleworking from abroad: why not more?
We worked from home (‘telework’) 100% for over a year (2020-21) and we’ve been able to telework from outside the place of employment (teleworking from anywhere/abroad (TWA)) for 10 days per year since 2021. In comparison, colleagues in the European Central Bank (ECB) have 90 such days and those at the European Patent Office (EPO) have 60. We’ve shown teleworking works and we’ve shown ourselves to be flexible, responsible and trustworthy. We delivered, even from kitchen tables and living rooms, even from outside the place of assignation. What happens now? Let’s look again at taking TWA further. Continue reading Teleworking from abroad: why not more?
