Generation 2004 member wins a case on access to their medical file!

Data Protection, disability and special needs, Health, Newsletter - 2021-10-08, Newsletter - 2021-10-12, PMO, workplace bullying and harassment Print This Post

Generation 2004 has been fighting hard for the effective implementation of the right of staff to have full and timely access to their medical file.

Access to your own medical file and the right to update the information contained there are very important, particularly in circumstances where that information is used to make a decision about you e.g. whether you are fit enough to continue to work or even just to be recruited.  A lack of transparency leads to questions about fairness and motives [1]. Of course, occasionally there may be legitimate reasons for insisting that a doctor access parts of the file on your behalf. However, we all still have the right to consult (via a healthcare professional, if necessary) the information in our medical history and to correct it or add a note where necessary. Continue reading Generation 2004 member wins a case on access to their medical file! →

Internal competitions: EU institutions doing it differently

Assistants, Institutions, Internal Competitions, New HR strategy, Newsletter - 2021-10-08, Newsletter - 2021-10-12, Professional mobility, Secretaries and clerks 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: EU institutions doing it differently →

Stop the phasing out of the AST function group!

Assistants, Newsletter - 2021-10-08, Newsletter - 2021-10-12, Secretaries and clerks, Staff Categories, Staff Regulations Reform Print This Post

*Update 23.09.2025: check the Draft 2026 Commission budget (p. 954-955). While the Commission as a whole is set to lose 24 posts, the AST function group is to lose 121 (leaving 4398 permanent staff). No other function group is to decrease in size.*

Original article: A brief history of assistants, secretaries and clerks in the European Commission

Since 2018 Generation 2004 has been warning of and working against the phasing out of the assistants (AST) function group (FG) and the placing of all AST staff in ‘transition’. To better understand the issues at stake, we need to briefly examine the history and evolution of assistants, secretaries and clerks (AST/SC) in the European Commission.  Continue reading Stop the phasing out of the AST function group! →

EPSO CBT training offer: October 2021

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*Update 18.10.2021: online free resources added below*

Generation 2004 is organising more computer-based multiple-choice test (CBT) training in English for 4/8/11/14 October (4 x 2 hour sessions) to provide you with techniques to pass the CBT phase of any European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) competition. We expect new competitions to be published very soon (within the next few days) (check ongoing selection procedures for CBT dates).

The final objective of this training is to guarantee that candidates master the CBT methodology. The training sessions will go through the theory of the exercises and share a practical methodology and exercises for practice at home, with the possibility of addressing doubts in the following session. Continue reading EPSO CBT training offer: October 2021 →

Sign our petition to stop the obligatory return to the office (and FAQs)

COVID-19, FAQs, Newsletter - 2021-09-20, return to the office-new normal Print This Post

*update 27.10.2021 the Belgian national authorities: from Friday 29.10.2021: ‘Teleworking is strongly recommended for all staff members of companies, associations and service providers, unless this is not possible due to the nature of the business or service.’

We at Generation 2004 believe that it is premature to push on with Phase 3 of the Tentative plan for gradual return to the office before the worries and issues voiced by staff are addressed. While we fully understand and support the need for many to go back to the office, we request that this be made voluntary and that the Commission postpone the obligation to return.

Continue reading Sign our petition to stop the obligatory return to the office (and FAQs) →

Hybrid teleworking in delegation – how is it implemented?

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Generation 2004 has taken the initiative to survey around 40 delegations and the feedback shows that nearly 25% of respondents have either no, or close to no, possibility of teleworking. While teleworking has been an effective mode of work since 2009 [1] for Brussels and other EU workplaces, there is still, as of today (12 years later!) not even a draft decision for teleworking for delegations. Continue reading Hybrid teleworking in delegation – how is it implemented? →

Teleworking from Anywhere: facts vs. fiction

Elections, New HR strategy, Newsletter - 2021-09-20, Social Dialogue, Teleworking, teleworking from anywhere Print This Post

Teleworking has been on the Commission HR work patterns menu for many, many years as a valuable tool to ensure a good work-life balance. With the Covid-19 pandemic, we have witnessed an unprecedented use of this way of working.    

Obviously, at some point a question arose: Why not teleworking from anywhere?   Continue reading Teleworking from Anywhere: facts vs. fiction →

Digital overload, burnout and back to the office

additional teleworking costs, COVID-19, Health, Newsletter - 2021-09-08, return to the office-new normal, Surveys, Working conditions Print This Post

*Update 04.01.2024 Even in 2016 smartphones were seen to add 11 hours of work to the average week.* Original article:  We invite you to participate in our survey on workload, digital overload and burnout. The Working time and hybrid working decision (issued July 2021) setting out the proposed ‘new normal’ with its ‘disconnection bandwidth’ is still under discussion (follow-up meeting with HR 8 September) and we’d like to have your most recent, post-summertime input, especially in light of the move to Phase 3 of the return to the office strategy announced for Monday 20 September for all Commission sites [1]. Continue reading Digital overload, burnout and back to the office →