Working conditions

The much expected new normal arrived, and it’s unfair for many!!!

additional teleworking costs, New HR strategy, Newsletter - 2022-06-07, Working conditions

New Decision on Working Time and Teleworking: service à la carte = discrimination! [1]

Two months into the implementation of the new Decision, Generation 2004 has already received many complaints from colleagues whose Directorate General (DG) has a restrictive reading of the decision. According to the information we have received, several DGs and services, including DG GROW, DG TAXUD, OIL and the Legal Service, have drafted – or are drafting – guidelines that set up an obligation to come to the office 3 or even 4 days per week, to the dismay of many among their staff. Often the reason given is a generic “interest of the service”, without offering any specific details and consulting staff, while such need was not necessary prior to the pandemic. And without carrying out an analysis based on different types of jobs or tasks inside the DG or service.  Continue reading The much expected new normal arrived, and it’s unfair for many!!! →

New decision on working time and hybrid working: summary of changes

Newsletter - 2022-04-13, return to the office-new normal, Teleworking, Working conditions

It is April and the new decision on working time and hybrid working has come into effect. Generation 2004 was heavily involved in the discussion process with the administration and we would like to present you the main points of the new decision. The decision is rather complex: FAQs are available as well.

Before starting, please understand that this is a completely new decision and that many details will depend on your DG and your line manager. Therefore, we are especially interested in your feedback! How does your DG interpret the rules? Is it a flexible approach or a one-size-fits-all model? Is your DG rather strict on the amount of teleworking or can you use the full 60% available for “normal” cases?

Continue reading New decision on working time and hybrid working: summary of changes →

It’s been two years of mandatory teleworking

additional teleworking costs, Health, Newsletter - 2022-03-16, return to the office-new normal, Standby duty, Teleworking, Working conditions

16 March 2022: exactly 2 years since 100% teleworking became obligatory for almost everyone at the Commission.  On that first day in 2020 some of us did not even have an internet connection at home or a computer. Nevertheless we did what we could with what we had and ensured business continuity at the Commission in the face of a global pandemic. We bought computers, got the internet connected, used our own mobile phones, joined work whatsapp groups, Continue reading It’s been two years of mandatory teleworking →

Special leave for volunteering: it’s one day PER YEAR!

crisis-response action, Leave, Newsletter - 2022-03-16, Outside the Union, Ukraine 2022

*Update 17.04.2024 We asked for the exceptional 5 days for volunteering to help with those affected by the war in Ukraine be made available for those volunteering to help civilians caught up in wars elsewhere.*

Original article: Generation 2004 clarifies the options available for volunteering in response to colleagues who have reached out to us for details. As mentioned on How to help Ukraine[1], special leave is available in sysper for volunteering. That means that you can volunteer and still be paid your full wage at the end of the month: great, right?[2] Continue reading Special leave for volunteering: it’s one day PER YEAR! →

Luxembourg: transport infrastructure will be lovely … once it’s finished!

commuting, Health, Luxembourg, Mobility and Climate, Newsletter - 2022-03-16, return to the office-new normal

*Update 09.09.2024: The state subsidies for the purchase of a personal means of transport have been extended.* We have the perfect spring transport storm for some of you: trains, roads, trams and back to the office 2 days a week[1]. The infrastructure work is ongoing all over but the benefits will not be felt for a while. Let’s start with cross-border travel.

Firstly France: work on the A3, the main France-Luxembourg road, has just started this week and is set to last for 5 years in total, so in early 2027, Continue reading Luxembourg: transport infrastructure will be lovely … once it’s finished! →

Launch of the evaluation process for EEAS local agents

Local Agents, Newsletter - 2022-03-16, Outside the Union, Promotions, workplace bullying and harassment

It is now the turn of our European External Action Service (EEAS) local agent colleagues to have their annual evaluation. We’re here for you! See the recommendations in our  presentation (from slide 8 onwards) for how to write your evaluation text and our article on the corresponding dialogue to get an idea of what to highlight and how. As usual, we offer one-on-one sessions to help colleagues by reviewing their self-assessments. Continue reading Launch of the evaluation process for EEAS local agents →

Core time in Luxembourg: mixed messages

Luxembourg, New HR strategy, Newsletter - 2022-02-22, return to the office-new normal, Social Dialogue, Working conditions

*Update 14.09.2022: OP and ESTAT requested and received exceptions (‘derogations’) similar to those they had previously.*

So, we’re back to work again for an obligatory one day a week [1]: this is all very similar to the last time this happened, in September 2021. The core time for DGT, Eurostat, CNECT, DIGIT, EAC, MOVE/ENER, ESTAT, OIL, OP, PMO and DG SANTE in Luxembourg remains as it was, at least for the moment: no changes there … so far. The issue is that the soon-to-be-implemented Working time and hybrid working decision  (WTHW) [2] setting out the proposed ‘new normal’ is a ‘one size fits all’ plan. Continue reading Core time in Luxembourg: mixed messages →

‘Unsatisfactory’ in the CDR? What now?

disability and special needs, Newsletter - 2022-02-22, Promotions, reclassification, workplace bullying and harassment

*Update 15.01.2024, the option to reuse the text from last evaluation means that the chat still takes place, but that there is no new written input possible from you or your line manager.*

Original article: You’ve done your best and it’s been a tough year. You’ve had your appraisal dialogue and prepared as best you could. In spite of it all, the evaluation is ‘Unsatisfactory’. What happens now? Firstly, don’t panic! Read everything you can (see list below) and act quickly: the career development review (CDR) can be refused (appealed) [1] but the deadlines are short and if nothing is done, the CDR is by default accepted. Continue reading ‘Unsatisfactory’ in the CDR? What now? →

Project 55+ transition towards retirement 2022

Events, Newsletter - 2022-02-22, Part-time, Pensions, Training

Want to start imagining and planning your transition towards retirement – but not sure how to do it? This is no longer a destination, but a journey.

Project 55+ is a practical 5-week community experience that will help you create, discover, refine and implement your transition project, during your final years at the Commission/EU Institutions, towards a successful new beginning that is uniquely yours. Continue reading Project 55+ transition towards retirement 2022 →

New decision on working time and hybrid working: only Generation 2004 said no!

additional teleworking costs, Newsletter - 2022-02-10, Teleworking, Working conditions

If you wonder what happened with the new Decision on Working Time and Hybrid working (WTHW) [1], here is the reply: all trade unions and staff associations (OSPs) except Generation 2004 accepted what is in the current draft and did not agree to continue the negotiations with the administration!

Generation 2004 was the only one among all OSPs to request Commissioner Hahn open a conciliation phase, the last possible option OSPs have in any negotiation with the administration [2].  This is a formal request to continue negotiations: there are too many points of disagreement still. Continue reading New decision on working time and hybrid working: only Generation 2004 said no! →