well-being

Large Scale Review: Will the Commission finally recognise burnout as a structural capacity risk and do something about it? 

Large-Scale review, Newsletter-2026-10-13, well-being, Working conditions

Generation 2004 asks that the Commission invests in the human capacity of its staff, giving particular attention to mental health awareness and burnout prevention in the Large-Scale Review. In addition, Generation 2004 asks that reintegration to work after long term absences is tailored to the needs and specific circumstances of the member of staff with support from career guidance and psychosocial services, allowing the change of teams or DGs if needed.

In addition to introducing a continuous AI supported ‘brain gym’ into the fabric of our daily work to build an AI augmented force as indicated in the 2nd Recommendation on Innovation and AI of the Large-Scale Review, the Commission should invest in the mental resilience of staff. The Commission should ensure that staff can be functionally proficient and recover quickly when exposed to unexpected crises before expecting it to be agile.  Continue reading Large Scale Review: Will the Commission finally recognise burnout as a structural capacity risk and do something about it?  →

Commission’s Mediation Service: is it a success story?

Equality, Newsletter-2026-10-13, Services, well-being, Working conditions, workplace bullying and harassment

Context  

The Mediation Service was initially created in 1977. It was the basis for mediation between the administration and individual staff members for more than 20 years.  

In 2002, the role of the Mediation Service was reinforced by Commission Decision C(2002) 601 of 25 February 2002. The Mediation Service was empowered to issue general recommendations. In doing so, the Mediation Service was assigned a twofold task: on the one hand, to facilitate the settlement, in individual cases, of any difficulty that may arise in the context of conflicts at work or concerning the rights and obligations of staff and, on the other hand, to identify systemic or structural factors that if left unaddressed could fuel similar problems or difficulties to arise in the future and recommend possible courses of action.  Continue reading Commission’s Mediation Service: is it a success story? →

Coming soon: Commission Decision will allow staff to be contacted during disconnection period in their private mobile phones

Data Protection, Newsletter-2026-06-30, well-being, Working conditions, workplace bullying and harassment

As explained in our  previous articles, the Commission is preparing a Decision that requires all staff to provide their private mobile to be contacted during their rest time.  

Continue reading Coming soon: Commission Decision will allow staff to be contacted during disconnection period in their private mobile phones →

Prevention or Cost-Cutting? Growing Concerns About the Future of the Medical Service of the European institutions

Newsletter-2026-05-29, well-being

At the same time as HEALTH has become a top priority on the European agenda, many colleagues have for some years noticed a gradual but significant change in the way preventive healthcare is organised for staff in European institutions.  Continue reading Prevention or Cost-Cutting? Growing Concerns About the Future of the Medical Service of the European institutions →

When Administrative Rules Shape and Damage a Life: Testimony of a Member

Health, Newsletter-2026-04-17, well-being

After reading the article on in vitro fertilization (IVF) reimbursement, I feel compelled to share my own experience – one that profoundly altered the course of my life and remains painful even years later. 

In 2016, after several years of unsuccessful attempts to conceive, my partner and I decided to pursue IVF treatment. At that time, reimbursement required the existence of a formally recognised “pathology.” My request for prior authorisation was refused because no such pathology had been established.  Continue reading When Administrative Rules Shape and Damage a Life: Testimony of a Member →

Surrender your mobile phone, it’s an order!

Cyber-security, Data Protection, Newsletter-2026-02-26, well-being, Working conditions, workplace bullying and harassment

As explained in our previous article, the Commission is drafting a Decision that requires all staff to provide their private mobile to be contacted during their rest time. 

Our article, published in September 2025 triggered comments from the administration, claiming that they would prove us wrong by providing updated information. No information was provided, but we still acknowledged what could seem like an intention to correct course by the administration, by informing you in October 2025 of a possible update on the situation.  Continue reading Surrender your mobile phone, it’s an order! →

Commission is reviewing its decision on sick-leave

Health, Leave, Newsletter-2026-02-26, Social Dialogue, well-being, Working conditions

Have you ever been on sick leave?
Most of you probably have at some point been ill during your time in the Commission. For some of you, the unpleasant experience of being ill, has been made worse by the related administrative process.
Everything relating to sick leave stems from art. 59 of the Staff Regulations, and its interpretation or creative development in the form of GIPs (General implementing provisions) by the administration.

The current version of the GIPs dates from 2004 and after over 20 years the time has come to update this document. For this reason, DG HR, Generation 2004 representatives and other trade unions have been meeting since last November to discuss the proposed changes.  

Continue reading Commission is reviewing its decision on sick-leave →

Lunchtime conference with inspiring guest speaker: Breaking the Menopause Taboo: What You, Your Partner, and Your Colleagues Need to Know.

Events, Health, Newsletter-2025-12-19, Training, well-being

***You can find the presentation and the recording here*** Do you have a partner whose reactions seem unusual to you? Do you have a colleague who has recently been more often ill or absent, when it was rarely the case before? Have you ever felt that your memory is failing, your emotions fluctuate, your body goes from hot to cold and vice versa without warning, you have joint and muscle pain, you can’t sleep at night, etc.?
Continue reading Lunchtime conference with inspiring guest speaker: Breaking the Menopause Taboo: What You, Your Partner, and Your Colleagues Need to Know. →

Supporting Prevention and Respect at Work: Generation 2004 Met the Chief Confidential Counsellor

Health, Newsletter-2025-10-30, well-being, Working conditions, workplace bullying and harassment

Generation 2004 recently met with the Chief Confidential Counsellor (CCC), the authority on the topic of workplace bullying and harassment, to explore how we can strengthen cooperation, increase visibility of the network of confidential counsellors, and further promote a genuine culture of bullying prevention and of mutual respect across the European Commission.  Appointed in September 2024, the Chief Confidential Counsellor leads a dedicated team of around twenty trained counsellors. Continue reading Supporting Prevention and Respect at Work: Generation 2004 Met the Chief Confidential Counsellor →