We have written to the president of the Commission to ask that the European External Action Service (EEAS) leave no one behind in Kabul, Afghanistan. In response to the current political crisis we ask the EU to move now to arrange safe transportation and passage from the different addresses of colleagues to the airport where it is anticipated that they will be transported to safer locations via humanitarian flights. Continue reading Please support colleagues in Afghanistan
Brexit and the annual travel allowance: explanation
*Update 14.05.2024: situations 1 and 2 below have changed. Check the HR statement. This will apply going forward with no backpay/claw back for anyone other than the colleagues who went to court.* Check our place of origin articles.*
Original article: Many colleagues (of all nationalities) who normally receive the June annual travel allowance either did not receive it this year or received a modified sum: the determining factor was place of origin. Continue reading Brexit and the annual travel allowance: explanation
Annual medical check-up: back to (socially distanced) normal
*update 12.10.2021: Still no annual medical service visits in Brussels, in spite of the information available on the staff matters website. We understand the process is currently still to go via your own doctor.*
*update 27.09.2021 the JSIS welcome Offices have reopened.*
*update 20.09.2021 Brussels: we have contacted the medical service about the e-agenda being deactivated, we will update this when we have more information, thanks to all of you who got in touch!* Continue reading Annual medical check-up: back to (socially distanced) normal
Geel elections: Generation 2004 staff representatives 2021
Despite being in the period of summer holiday, the July 2021 Geel local staff committee election has been successfully concluded with your support! You gave us 294 votes in total, which corresponds to 7 out of 14 elected representatives [1]. Generation 2004 thanks each and every colleague who took the effort to participate in the paper voting (no electronic voting for Geel as yet). Continue reading Geel elections: Generation 2004 staff representatives 2021
Survey on workload, digital overload and burnout
*Update 01.09.2021: move to Phase 3 of the return to the office strategy announced for Monday 20 September for all Commission sites.*
Many of you, facing various issues, have contacted Generation 2004 throughout the pandemic. The vast majority of the difficulties raised relate to having difficulties to disconnect (also called Zoom fatigue) or having to be reachable all the time. Colleagues are also working additional hours, working late into the evening and during the weekends: e.g. because the workload has substantially increased in some directorates-general (those working on high-priority files, such as EU Green Deal, Recovery Resilience Facility (RRF), Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF)), or because of shortages of staff (those who leave not being replaced), or even just because it is difficult to decline that meeting or to reject that call from a colleague or superior. Additionally, external media outlets have reported that some directorates-general (DGs) face extreme workload related to priority files, which puts colleagues at risk of burnout. The situation might even more aggravate when we will move to the “New normal”. Continue reading Survey on workload, digital overload and burnout
Deadline extension: LA employment-conditions reform
Generation 2004 is glad to inform you that the deadline for Local agents to decide whether they would like to accept the new Local Agent conditions is now extended to 31 December 2021.
If you wish to have any questions, please feel free to contact us. Continue reading Deadline extension: LA employment-conditions reform
Lingua franca, what? SCIC
What does it mean when your interlocutor refuses to use the only language you both have in common? Is it a (repeated) oversight? Forgetfulness? Something else?
Why on earth would anyone do this on purpose? They wouldn’t, right?
Regardless of the motivation, it’s awkward, isn’t it, being spoken at in a language you don’t understand, especially when you know you have a language in common and you’ve asked several times to use it. Continue reading Lingua franca, what? SCIC
UPDATE: our DG GROW reorganisation survey
Many of our DG Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW) colleagues were directly affected by the recent and extensive reorganisation of the DG and a large number raised concerns on the implications for career development, the level of communication and the engagement with those impacted by these changes. Continue reading UPDATE: our DG GROW reorganisation survey
Stated aims and reality: AST/SC
*Update 23.09.2025: It’s now official: 50 AST/SCs are to have the (mis)fortune of doing an AST post without the corresponding AST promotion speed or career potential. Check the Draft 2026 Commission budget: ’50 posts in the function group AST may be occupied by officials and temporary staff in the AST/SC function group to reflect the gradual phase-in of the AST/SC function group.’ (p. 955, footnote 1). 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.* Continue reading Stated aims and reality: AST/SC
IT office equipment … ongoing
Unfortunately, this article needs to start with an apology: we here at Generation 2004 are deeply sorry and contrite for the unintended effects that our photography contest on the ‘Wild West of Teleworking’ seems to have had. But let us explain. Continue reading IT office equipment … ongoing
