Welcome to the 5 May 2020 Generation 2004 Newsletter. COVID-19 is still capturing our near full attention! However, while many report on progress of the pandemic and its related crisis, at Generation 2004 we are busy trying to improve conditions of staff during these difficult times: read here a summary of what we have been doing. In more detail among other things we asked DG HR and DIGIT to review the rules on what equipment can be taken home from the office during the mandatory teleworking and also asked for refund of privately bought IT equipment acquired by staff to be able to fulfil their duties during this stressful period. We also took a close look at the Commission plan to return to the office (aka “Operation Return”) and launched a petition to request immediate and effective help for parents in distress. Even if you do not have children, please sign it in solidarity with the many colleagues nearing a breaking point.

In more specific, but still somewhat COVID-19 related news we sent a note to DG COMM to ask for the yearly rotation exercise to be suspended during the COVID-19 crisis. We also too the chance to ask for a review of the whole rotation exercise, which, 12 years after its introduction, has apparently not aged too well.

Finally, in COVID-19 free news, we took a close look at the Local Agents social dialogue which is currently going on at the EEAS, and we are hiring a Secretary for our team in Brussels.

If this is not enough, please rest assured that there is more great content on our website for you to explore!!!

Meanwhile, stay safe and stay home!