Working conditions

Harassment package: next steps

Newsletter - 2023-07-20, workplace bullying and harassment

*Update 27.05.2024 EU Whosiwho still lists the Chief Confidential Counsellor role as empty. Also, check out these videos How to tell if you’re being bullied at work? and Workplace bullying. There is also another support network available., in addition to the Harassment Watch Network.*

Original article:  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

additional teleworking costs, New HR strategy, Newsletter - 2023-07-20, Working conditions

*Update 09.10.2023 please participate in the Commission survey on the environmental impact of teleworking: deadline 11.10.2023. These emmissions must also be counted in greening the Commission!* Original article: 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

CA screening, Contract Agents, Events, FAQs, Newsletter - 2023-07-20, Pensions

*Update 05.11.2025, we’ve received several emails asking about a second Picard-related case. We believe that this relates to those who have become officials and so have added a heading below. If this is not what is meant by ‘Picard 2.0’ or you have any info, please share it and we’ll add it here, thanks!*

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). Continue reading The institutions implement the Picard judgement – sort of … FAQ →

Teleworking from abroad: why not more?

New HR strategy, Newsletter - 2023-07-20, Teleworking, teleworking from anywhere

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? →

Summer holiday checklist (Tips)

building closures, Health, Leave, Newsletter - 2023-07-20, Standby duty, Teleworking, Working conditions

*Update 24.07.2023 Luxembourg national legislation now includes the right to disconnect, though the situation on the ground needs some work.* *For those of you who remain in the office keeping the Commission standing (thanks!), please check out the heatwave instructions for dealing with hot Offices and the list of buildings to be temporarily closed under Buildings Energy Saving Together (BEST) 2023[1]. Read our related article on how these closures undermine the insistence that working from home is voluntary.*

With many of us now looking forward to enjoying some well-deserved leave over the summer, we remind you that annual leave is your time to do with as you will. It is not there for you to catch up on work still needing done, it is not there for you to ‘clear your feet’ with projects, it is not there for you to monitor what is or is not happening back in the office. Being reachable all of the time is draining, contributes to burnout and can allow bullying/harassment to continue round the clock and unabated. Take this time for you and leave the office behind! Continue reading Summer holiday checklist (Tips) →

Another intermediate salary update – but beware the end of the year

Newsletter - 2023-06-30, Working conditions

*Update 13.12.2023 some 2000 (of the lowest-paid) colleagues have seen their salary drop in December.* Original article: We hope you had a positive surprise when looking at your June payslip; following the intermediate update last year (after decades without them), inflation is still so high that Eurostat’s calculations lead to a small update this year. While of course every little bit of help is welcome, the update value of 1.7% is clearly not enough to deal with the (still) sky-high inflation. Continue reading Another intermediate salary update – but beware the end of the year →

Be aware of lost money for a pension transfer-in

Assistants, Contract Agents, Newsletter - 2023-06-30, Pensions, Secretaries and clerks, Temporary Agents

*Update 06.11.2025 here is the link to retirement info on staff matters.*

 Original article: Are you (relatively) new in the institutions? Have you worked somewhere else before and acquired pension rights in another pension scheme? Then you have surely heard about the possibilities to transfer your pension rights from your previous scheme into the EU pension scheme, a so called “transfer-in”. In an older article, we already informed you about the conversion coefficients that play a crucial role in determining how many years Continue reading Be aware of lost money for a pension transfer-in →

End of service: informed decisions please!

allowances, Contract Agents, Newsletter - 2023-06-30, Temporary Agents, Working conditions

*Update 09.01.2025 Please be aware of the end of contract admin and that the payment of the EU unemployment allowance (the extra, supplementary part) is not automatic: it must be requested and the deadline is very short: ‘within eight days after your contract ends, submit a formal application for EU unemployment allowance’ (p.7, Practical Guide, August 2023).* Continue reading End of service: informed decisions please! →

No EU allowances unless you first try elsewhere

allowances, Newsletter - 2023-05-10, PMO, Services, Working conditions

It’s always nice to get financial support (e.g. family allowances), and some of us can get it from either our institution or a national authority.  While this is a fortunate situation, it is quite clear that you should not be paid twice for the same request, whether that is for your medical expenses or allowances for your children. The staff regulations are quite clear in this respect, and we all have to declare any allowances received from national sources (check out our IDOC article).

Continue reading No EU allowances unless you first try elsewhere →

Have you been IDOC(ed)?

Newsletter - 2023-05-10, workplace bullying and harassment

*Update 27.08.2024: Check out the the 2023 IDOC report.*

Original article: You have probably already asked yourself: What is IDOC? What is a difference between an administrative inquiry and disciplinary procedure? What are possible sanctions? Will I be treated fairly?

IDOC stands for Investigation and Disciplinary Office of the Commission [1]. (Nearly) everything that the IDOC does is secret. Continue reading Have you been IDOC(ed)? →