An already-outdated policy in a new era of work?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.
Teleworking
Teleworking and Wellbeing: Time to put Human Care First!
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
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
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
Conference: Who owns your mobile phone? Work-related communications on private devices
*Update 22 January 2025, please find the recording of our conference. Roughly year ago (in December 2023), the Commission asked staff to provide their private mobile phone numbers to create Signal messenger groups where they could be contacted for work purposes. The intended goal was to test business continuity, but it lacked any legal basis and even a basic respect for data-protection (GDPR) principles.
End-of-year checklist 2024
*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
10 days of teleworking from outside the place of employment: use them or lose them!
It’s been use it or lose it at the Commission for some time now and the 10 days of teleworking from anywhere (TWA) are an example of this. Article 11 of the March 2022 working time and hybrid working (WTHW) decision gives all staff the right to enjoy up to 10 days of teleworking from outside their normal workplace per year, upon their request, subject to the agreement of the line manager. Continue reading 10 days of teleworking from outside the place of employment: use them or lose them!
‘Voluntary’ availability during end-of-year break
We are aware of colleagues being asked to ‘voluntarily’[1] declare their availability to ‘ensure business continuity’[2] during the end-of-year stop (23.12.2024-02.01.2025). Given that many staff will already have their laptop with them, whether that’s to use the 10 telework from anywhere (TWA) days, to accommodate the routine building closures at this time of year[3] or to work around cold offices, it can seem a little predatory to then ask when (not whether) colleagues are available during these rest days for unspecified and as-yet-unmeasured tasks. As though no one would have the intention of filling that time with their own plans!
Continue reading ‘Voluntary’ availability during end-of-year break
Cold? leave a paper trail!
It’s that time of year again and several of you have got in touch to say that your workspace is below the legal minimum temperature of 19°C in Brussels and 20°C in Luxembourg. We raise this point everywhere we can, but so far it is falling on deaf ears. What can we all do about it? We ask you to make some noise. Please contact your proximity team [1] every time you suspect that your work area is below the minimum temperature.
Are interpreters being listened to?
New technologies do not always bring benefits for everybody. One of the collateral victims of more digitalisation are interpreters. The job of an Interpreter was already difficult in the “old” days of meetings in situ, with interpreters working from booths in the conference room where delegates negotiated EU policies.
