Working conditions

Teleworking abroad in 2022? Here is the easy solution!

Leave, Newsletter - 2022-02-10, Teleworking

*update 19.02.2022: unfortunately the 14th edition of the teleworking guidelines (valid from 21.02.2022) have not applied the simple solutions Generation 2004 suggested below.*

We have listened to all of you who contacted us to enquire about teleworking from abroad/outside the place of employment (TWA) for this year. Many would like to have at least the same arrangements as last year so that they can request their 10 days of TWA now, while planning for the school holidays of Carnival and Easter. If not, it would be good to at least know exactly what the rules are: you are planning the year ahead: you need certainty! Continue reading Teleworking abroad in 2022? Here is the easy solution! →

Flexibility days 2022 now available to request

Leave, Newsletter - 2022-02-10, Part-time, Teleworking, Working conditions

For those of you keen to plan the year ahead and organising things to look forward to, note that the 2022 flexibility days are now listed on MyIntracomm 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 2022 now available to request →

Would you like to undertake other activities outside your current job in the Commission?

Contract Agents, Cost of living Luxembourg, Newsletter - 2022-01-28, Services, Temporary Agents, Working conditions

*Update 27.0302025: Under certain circumstanaces you can work elsewhere while in receipt of an invalidity allowance: ‘Persons in receipt of an invalidity allowance may not engage in gainful employment without the prior authorisation of the Appointing Authority. Any income from such gainful employment which, in combination with the invalidity allowance, exceeds the final Continue reading Would you like to undertake other activities outside your current job in the Commission? →

It’s only for 2 days a week! hot-desking and buildings

COVID-19, Events, Health, Newsletter - 2022-01-21, Open Plan Office, return to the office-new normal, Social Dialogue

How much does the move to hot-desking (‘dynamic’) and open-plan Offices matter with the move to hybrid working? It will only be 40% presence in any given week, you can tolerate 2 days, right? And we’re not going back to the office just yet, so it’s not a worry for the moment! Regardless, the move to hot-desking and open-plan offices for thousands of staff continues apace during a pandemic that is showing no sign of slowing. Have you considered what that entails? Continue reading It’s only for 2 days a week! hot-desking and buildings →

The hidden costs of teleworking – and now energy prices!

additional teleworking costs, Events, Newsletter - 2022-01-21

*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!**Update November 2022, we have republished this survey in order to make a comparison, please participate!* *Update March 2022: 1193 colleagues responded to our additional teleworking costs survey: only 2.85% saw no utility-bill increase. With 27% of respondents seeing their monthly bills increase by a total of 51-100 EUR.* Continue reading The hidden costs of teleworking – and now energy prices! →

More than 12 days of annual leave remaining from last year?

COVID-19, disability and special needs, Health, Leave, Newsletter - 2022-01-13

*In 2023 it should no longer be necessary to request the transfer of days where it is a right thanks to our initiative [1].*

For those of you with surplus days of annual leave: check out the viable reasons for requesting that the days (in addition to the standard 12 days) be added to your 2022 quota: either for requirements of the service or for health reasons. Even if you do not fall into one of the categories listed, please discuss with your line manager rather than just assume the days are lost. Continue reading More than 12 days of annual leave remaining from last year? →

Zero net salary increase after advance in step!

Newsletter - 2022-01-13, Petition, Promotions, reclassification, Secretaries and clerks, Staff Categories, Working conditions, yearly salary update

When is an upgrade not an upgrade? So, you didn’t get promoted or reclassified last year, but you’re due an upgrade in step and are looking forward to the (however small)  associated salary increase. The only circumstances where there is no increase in pay is in the last step in the grade: the salary there is always the same as step 1 of the next grade. So you reckon you’ll get something, right? Well… at the end of the day it might actually be nothing: zero. Continue reading Zero net salary increase after advance in step! →

2022 appraisal and promotion/reclassification exercises conference

Events, Newsletter - 2021-12-16, Promotions, reclassification, workplace bullying and harassment

*Check out our 20.01.2022 update on this very topic*

2022 is here and with it comes the annual appraisal exercise [1] (Commission staff: 5 January for the launch of appraisal self-assessments and 12 January for reclassification self-assessments). It is crucial to understand how this works because it will play a huge part in how your career will progress.

Generation 2004 organises a conference to explain and offer tips. We cover how to prepare your self-assessment and your one-on-one interview with your reporting officer [2]. Continue reading 2022 appraisal and promotion/reclassification exercises conference →

Things to check before holidays start (Tips)

COVID-19, Health, IT kit for telework, Leave, Newsletter - 2021-12-16, PMO, Teleworking, Working conditions

Well done on getting though another year of a global pandemic! While that brings its own challenges, there are perhaps some additional things worth checking before your well-deserved Christmas and New Year holiday leave.

Collective action on the very discriminatory internal competition for temporary agents (TAs) only: to join our collective action please apply for this internal competition by 21 December 2021. Continue reading Things to check before holidays start (Tips) →

Home office kit – assembling the chair

IT kit for telework, Newsletter - 2021-12-16, Teleworking

*Update 05.02.2024, this offer is still open. Check out the instructions on assembling or adjusting​ the chair.* Original article: As you hopefully know, the Commission is offering most (but sadly not all [1]) of us a home-office kit including an ergonomic chair [2]. After having battled for so long on this topic, the team of Generation 2004 did not want to let the opportunity pass to test-drive this offer and participate in this scheme as well. The ordering process is relatively painless, although delivery of the chair took a couple of weeks. From the outside, the chair looks to be of good quality. So, if you are still hesitating whether the offer is worth the trouble, we can recommend it. Continue reading Home office kit – assembling the chair →