The European Commission’s use of Microsoft 365 infringes data protection law for EU institutions and bodies. This is the statement by the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS), the independent supervisory authority for the protection of personal data and privacy for EU institutions, as published in its press release EDPS/2024/05 of 11 March 2024. Continue reading The European Commission infringes data protection
Working conditions
High time for more flexible teleworking, also from abroad!
The implementation of the Decision on Working Time and Hybrid Working (WTHW) was evaluated by DG HR at the end of 2023 and, while targeted actions are now expected, there will be no big revision, the promised flexibility is still one-sided. Generation 2004 was pleased to notice that the evaluation is overall very positive and that many managers also appreciated the enhanced flexibility of WTHW and made use themselves of the possibilities to better reconcile their private and professional lives. Continue reading High time for more flexible teleworking, also from abroad!
Special categories of personal data (biometric: fingerprints) for building access
Fingerprint enrolment (biometric data) of staff for any workplace access is not something that can be done ad hoc. Data-protection legislation (GDPR)[1] states that biometric data is a special category of personal data and subject to specific processing conditions. The European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) raised this very same issue with the European Parliament in 2023[2]. Continue reading Special categories of personal data (biometric: fingerprints) for building access
Flexibility days 2024 now available to request
For those of you keen to plan the year ahead and organising things to look forward to, note that the 2024 flexibility days are now listed and available to request in sysper. These are the three public holidays every year where you can choose to work and have the days back as annual leave [1]. Perhaps this is not an option for you at the moment, but it’s good to know that this possibility exists. Continue reading Flexibility days 2024 now available to request
More missing contributions for a pension transfer-in
While it is possible to take your pensions contributions from national systems and put them into the pension scheme of the European Union institutions (PSEUI), this is often a long-drawn-out process and it can be rather opaque. We recently highlighted the general exclusion of Member State ‘gifted’ contributions (e.g. covering times of military service or caring duties) from transfers-in and of a failed court case to try to recover the contributions where their inclusion made no difference. Now we cover a further potential complication which is delays in Member States doing their part in this process. Continue reading More missing contributions for a pension transfer-in
Is it a man’s world?
When I came to JRC Karlsruhe a some years ago, it became quickly clear to me that the Karlsruhe site had a majority of male colleagues, by far. Being a woman, I felt at times daunted how few women we indeed were.
In the meantime, things have changed at JRC Karlsruhe: we already have the second female site director and more and more women in head of unit (HoU)and DHoU positions[1].
International Women’s Day: where are we now?
Generation 2004 wants International Women’s Day (IWD) to be about action, evaluation and noting what still needs to be done. We want more than thanks or praise for women going the extra mile. We cannot pay our bills with applause![1] It’s not enough to simply call women ‘heroes‘ in March each year. Look at every declaration of a push for equality and see whether the actions match the words!
Continue reading International Women’s Day: where are we now?
Own-initiative training: You are, in fact, on your own
If you work for the Commission and you would like to keep up with developments in your area of expertise, or to acquire new skills to help you in your work, you are in for an unpleasant surprise. Up until recently, the Commission would contribute to the fees of a successful course, making it easier to take the decision to acquire university or other qualifications later in your career – especially for colleagues at the lower end of the pay scales. Continue reading Own-initiative training: You are, in fact, on your own
Commission Representations rotate anticlockwise? II
As we explained in our previous article on this very topic, there is quite a lot of room for improvement in the current annual reshuffling of staff and posts around the world (‘rotation’) in EU Delegations.
To start with, there is no real provision for the rotation of Contractual Agents (CA), who form a substantial part of the staff in Representations[1]. Continue reading Commission Representations rotate anticlockwise? II
Social-media guidelines or muzzle?
On 12 June 2023 HR published on the Commission intranet Social media guidelines updated, offering support to staff:Advice on posting about EU matters on personal social media. You might have thought, ‘Excellent, finally I will find out what I can write!’ Well, it might not be as user friendly as it appears to be. Continue reading Social-media guidelines or muzzle?