Teleworking

Telework from elsewhere or anywhere or abroad?

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*Update 25.09.2025 The outcome of the court case related to the removal of the expatriation allowance for some staff in the Parliament while working from outside the place of employment during Covid is added as footnote [**].*

Original article: Generation 2004 has consistently asked for an extension of the current 10-day quota to telework from anywhere (also sometimes erroneously called ‘telework from abroad’) (TWA). DG HR’s often-used argument to reject this request is that the average use of this possibility remains well below the 10 days given.
 Continue reading Telework from elsewhere or anywhere or abroad? →

Breaking news: You can now combine parental leave with TWA 

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*Update 26.08.2025 here’s the new link with instructions on how to encode those TWA days, note that even Blue Book trainees can have 5 days.*

Original article: Generation 2004 is glad to announce that from now on, you can combine any type of leave – including parental leave – with teleworking from outside the place of employment, or teleworking from anywhere (TWA). We particularly thank Mr Quest, the Director-General of HR for his positive reply to our long-standing request
 Continue reading Breaking news: You can now combine parental leave with TWA  →

EEAS: “One Day Only?” The Battle Over Teleworking Rights for Local Agents

EEAS, Local Agents, Newsletter-2025-07-08, Social Dialogue, Teleworking, teleworking from anywhere, well-being, Working conditions Print This Post

In an era where “flexibility” is a buzzword and remote work a norm, local agents (LAs) in Delegations find themselves limited to just one day of teleworking per week. That’s the core of the draft decision currently being debated inside EEAS, in a growing wave of staff disappointment.
Continue reading EEAS: “One Day Only?” The Battle Over Teleworking Rights for Local Agents →

Summer holiday 2025 checklist (Tips)

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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) 2025[1]. Read our related article on how these closures undermine that working from home is voluntary.*

Continue reading Summer holiday 2025 checklist (Tips) →

Wave of rail strikes in Belgium – wake up call for the Administration

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Following the 2024 Belgian federal election, and prolonged negotiations, a new Belgian federal government has finally been in place since 3 February 2025. This economically-right-oriented government has come up with a list of measures in the areas of taxation, employment and unemployment, pension, security, immigration, mobility, climate, defence.
 Continue reading Wave of rail strikes in Belgium – wake up call for the Administration →

Teleworking from anywhere: A question of fairness and modernisation in the EU administration

EEAS, Equality, Newsletter-2025-02-28, Teleworking, teleworking from anywhere, well-being, Working conditions Print This Post

*Update 26.08.2025 here’s the new link with instructions on how to encode those TWA/TWOPE days, note that even Blue Book trainees can have 5 days.*

Original article: An already-outdated policy in a new era of work? The need for teleworking change, especially within the External Action Service (EEAS) and Brussels (‘HQ’) rules.  In a world where remote work has proven not only feasible but often preferable, the teleworking and teleworking from anywhere (TWA) policies remain a little too rigid and, to many, stuck in the past.

Continue reading Teleworking from anywhere: A question of fairness and modernisation in the EU administration →

Teleworking and Wellbeing: Time to put Human Care First!

Newsletter-2025-02-12, Teleworking, teleworking from anywhere, Working conditions Print This Post

*Update 26.08.2025 here’s the new link with instructions on how to encode those TWA days, note that even Blue Book trainees can have 5 days.*

Original article: Since 2020, Generation 2024 has been advocating for more flexible rules on teleworking, both from the place of employment and from everywhere.  At the end of 2023, during the review of the Decision on Working Time and Hybrid Working (WTHW), the administration missed a key opportunity to sit at the table with the staff representatives to analyse results and negotiate some final modifications to the decision to address the issues that remained outstanding, such as the additional costs of working from home.  Continue reading Teleworking and Wellbeing: Time to put Human Care First! →

Brave new world at the Commission: the day the staff representation was abolished

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I wake up and it is just another ordinary day. I prepare breakfast and get my child ready. Then head to the crèche before going to the office.  But to my great surprise, the crèche is closed. Nobody seems to be around. When I finally spot someone I know, I ask what is going on. Maybe a strike? “Not really. Weren’t you informed? Continue reading Brave new world at the Commission: the day the staff representation was abolished →

Flexibility days 2025 now available to request

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For those of you keen to plan the year ahead and organising things to look forward to, note that the 2025 flexibility days are already listed and available to request in sysper. These are the three public holidays every year where you[1] can choose to work and have the days back as annual leave[2]. Even if this is not an option for you at the moment, it’s good to know that this possibility exists. Continue reading Flexibility days 2025 now available to request →

End-of-year checklist 2024

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*Update 19.12.2024 many thanks to the colleague who wrote to clarify that the flu vaccine is no longer reimbursed at 100%.*

Original article: In response to your feedback we try to send this list out a bit earlier in order to give you time to take action. We encourage you to do what you can now in order to be able to use the end-of-year period to rest and to recharge your batteries. This is not an opportunity to get work done!  Please, as far as you can, switch off your devices, mute notifications and disconnect: take the time for you. Continue reading End-of-year checklist 2024 →