Help a European School to stay on the map!

European Schools, Newsletter - 2023-12-19 Print This Post

*Update 15.05.2024 Neder-Over-Heembeek won’t be available in 2028 as originally planned, but in late 2030.*

Original article: Brussels staff with kids in European Schools lose sleep every time their kids’ school is threatened with closure or transfer. If you are one of them, please send the text below and share the action with others. If it’s not your school this time, it could well be next time! The European School of Evere is presented as a permanent solution in a temporary building. Continue reading Help a European School to stay on the map! →

Updated medical-bill ceilings: a step in the right direction

Complementary coverage, Health, Newsletter - 2023-12-13, Working conditions Print This Post

If you’ve entered the Joint Sickness Insurance Scheme (JSIS) online you will have been greeted with the good news of Higher reimbursement ceilings, broader access to medically assisted reproduction. There was a similar announcement on MyIntracomm AuQuotidien (see the comments below the line for suggestions and additional information). Commission Decision of 17.11.2023 (C(2023) 7673 final) Continue reading Updated medical-bill ceilings: a step in the right direction →

Echoes of unhappiness

Assistants, Certification, Contract Agents, EPSO, Internal Competitions, Local Agents, Newsletter - 2023-12-13, Promotions, reclassification, Secretaries and clerks, Staff Categories, Temporary Agents, Training Print This Post

*Update 19.02.2025: ‘By default, all [internal] competitions will be cross-category.’ (Stay tuned: A new approach for internal competitions) This is excellent news and should now put the Commission on an even footing with the Parliament and other EU institutions. We hope that this inclusion is genuine and that the competitions are not  otherwise skewed to reduce participation. Participation in these competitions can be done in parallel to the certification: use all your options!*

Continue reading Echoes of unhappiness →

Work groups on private mobile: voluntary?

'voluntold', Data Protection, New HR strategy, Newsletter - 2023-12-13, Standby duty, Teleworking, Working conditions Print This Post

*Update 12.04.2024: On the processing of personal data: the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) European Commission’s use of Microsoft 365 infringes data protection law for EU institutions and bodies.* Original article: There’s a difference between the right to disconnect as presented in the working time and hybrid working (WTHW) decision and the reality for those being ‘encouraged’ (voluntold/expected)  to join messaging groups on their private mobile for ‘business continuity’. See our recent communication on this topic. The right to disconnect is in the 2022 WTHW decision and also its 2023 evaluation where it is acknowledged that more needs to be done. Continue reading Work groups on private mobile: voluntary? →

Certification: 5 days to appeal non-inclusion

Assistants, Certification, Newsletter - 2023-12-13, Newsletter - 2024-01-08 Print This Post

*Update 19.02.2025: ‘By default, all [internal] competitions will be cross-category.’ (Stay tuned: A new approach for internal competitions) This is excellent news and should now put the Commission on an even footing with the Parliament and other EU institutions. We hope that this inclusion is genuine and that the competitions are not  otherwise skewed to reduce participation. Participation in these competitions can be done in parallel to the certification: use all your options!* Continue reading Certification: 5 days to appeal non-inclusion →

Internal competitions – Progress for some, barrier for others

EPSO, Internal Competitions, Newsletter - 2023-12-01 Print This Post

*Update 11.04.2024 the AST competition to be made open to AST-SC colleagues was finally published in February, some 3 months behind the original planning*

Original article: Equal opportunities but not for all. When individuals embark on a career within the European Commission, they hold legitimate expectations of progression and growth, regardless of their staff category. Whether one is a permanent official, a temporary employee, or a contract agent, the belief in opportunities for professional development is inherent. Continue reading Internal competitions – Progress for some, barrier for others →

Operation Hiver – a contest for the coolest picture

additional teleworking costs, building closures, Newsletter - 2023-12-01, Newsletter - 2023-12-13, Newsletter - 2024-01-08, office temperatures, Open Plan Office, Teleworking, Working conditions Print This Post

*Update 09.04.2024, here are the results of our contest, thanks to all who participated!*

*Update 08.03.2024 the gendered aspect of this debate has been around for a long time, we see no evidence that it is being addressed, please get in touch if you’ve seen anything to counter this! Overcooling of Offices reveals gender inequity in thermal comfort. and Here’s Why Your Office May Be Too Hot or Cold: Gender Bias.*

*Update 14.12.2023 As promised below, here is our note to HR and OIB/OIL asking for the year of data on office temperatures.*

Original article: Winter is coming. The official rhetoric is that the EU is committed to ambitious environmental goals Continue reading Operation Hiver – a contest for the coolest picture →

Brownie points, shattered dreams & utility-bill miracles

New HR strategy, Newsletter - 2023-12-01, Teleworking Print This Post

*Update 27.02.2025: the question of whether managers can/should  use Teams/Skype or other status as an indication of your presence/availability has been raised repeatedly, particularly given that you might have a different status on each platform. Check out question 14 of the flexible working FAQs for written confirmation that this is not their intended use and that status is not a reliable indicator of presence or non-presence.* Continue reading Brownie points, shattered dreams & utility-bill miracles →

Certification programme overview and details

Assistants, Certification, Newsletter - 2024-01-08 Print This Post

Congratulations to the 35 Commission colleagues who completed Certification in 2023! For those of you participating in the interviews for the 2023/24 edition you have 5 days to appeal non-inclusion on the list of those who will go on to the next interviews, get ready! For those who manage to get their names on that list, there is training available for the interviews. Generation 2004 is aware of the exceptionally poor exam results in 2024, we are awaiting the publication of the corresponding report to make comparisons with the previous 17 certification exercises. Continue reading Certification programme overview and details →

Internal competitions – but for whom?

EPSO, Internal Competitions, Newsletter - 2023-12-01, Professional mobility Print This Post

*Update 19.02.2025: ‘By default, all [internal] competitions will be cross-category.’ (Stay tuned: A new approach for internal competitions) This is excellent news and should now put the Commission on an even footing with the Parliament and other EU institutions. We hope that this inclusion is genuine and that the competitions are not  otherwise skewed to reduce participation.* Continue reading Internal competitions – but for whom? →