Following an announcement on 14 May, stating that the European Schools of Brussels would remain closed until the end of the school year of 2019-2020 on 3 July, a new update was sent to parents last Friday (29 May 2020), announcing the schools partial reopening for four weeks, from 8 June until 3 July (please read our note to European School)*. Not only was the move a surprising 180º turn of events, but it also came with some issues that Generation 2004 analysed and reacted upon in a note to DG HR’s Director General, Gertrud INGESTAD.
To return or not to return (to the office)? That is the question!
Have you been asking yourself questions like these?
- Have the Commission and the EEAS (European External Action Service) put the health of colleagues at the heart of their strategy for return to the office?
- Will staff members risk their health and possibly infect their families?
If so, then you are not alone. Continue reading To return or not to return (to the office)? That is the question!
Coronavirus Special leave petition results and social dialogue
Generation 2004’s petition for special leave for parents with young children was a great success. At the time of writing this article, it has gathered over 1950 signatures (Update: 2090 signatures as of 09/06/2020) [1].
Continue reading Coronavirus Special leave petition results and social dialogue
Covid-19 – new teleworking guidelines and reimbursements of necessary costs
Teleworking Guidelines 4.2.2021 are now available.
The Commission has published updated teleworking guidelines which first entered into force on 25 May 2020: the first day of phase 1 of the deconfinement. We summarise the most important points in this article. Please take the time to read the guidelines carefully. Different sites will have different timelines, subject to the situation on the ground and the measures taken by the host country. Continue reading Covid-19 – new teleworking guidelines and reimbursements of necessary costs
“No one left behind”?
Due to the current unexpected crisis we all face, unprecedented fellowship and collegiality is necessary in order to get through these difficult times. “No one will be left behind” is a mantra we have been hearing throughout the last few weeks from our appointing authorities. However, we are not yet sure if this is or will be the case for our freelance colleagues. Continue reading “No one left behind”?
Time credits leave
*Update 19.12.2022 at the request of a colleague we have added a table, see below.* For many of us, the coronavirus crisis means we cannot visit our relatives back home, in particular older members of our families. Some of them suffer from isolation and anxiety and badly miss our support. Once the crisis calms down, we will need to catch up with them and make sure that they go back to a normal life as quickly as possible. Of course, we can use our regular leave days for that purpose. However, if your annual leave days are not sufficient, there is a little-known possibility offered by the staff regulations to supplement them: time-credit leave. Continue reading Time credits leave
Closure of the CHAFEA agency in Luxembourg
Rahm Emanuel, a former White House Chief of staff, is known for his quote about crisis management:
You never want a serious crisis to go to waste. And what I mean by that [is] it’s an opportunity to do things that you think you could not before.
Sign the petition on a coronavirus special leave for parents with children
After receiving complaints from many colleagues, Generation 2004 decided to launch a petition to pressure the Commission to help colleagues who have to telework and, at the same time, educate and take care of young children. This situation puts additional stress on families and is not sustainable for longer period. Continue reading Sign the petition on a coronavirus special leave for parents with children
‘Operation Return’: Action plan for the gradual return to the office
We all agree that our colleagues deserve to have the most up-to-date information on the COVID-19 situation and on how our return to the office will look like. The administration reassured us that in Brussels we would not start returning to the office before 25 May 2020. Unfortunately, no dates were given for the return in the remaining European Commission (EC) sites, EC Representations or EU Delegations, in which the situation may vary from country to country. Continue reading ‘Operation Return’: Action plan for the gradual return to the office
“Nihil de nobis, sine nobis!” at the EEAS Social Dialogue
Two rounds of social dialogue bilateral discussions between Director Francoise Collet of the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the Trade Unions (TUs) and staff associations (SAs) of the EEAS and the European Commission (EC), as well as one round with the Director General Gianmarco Di Vito (EEAS) were held through videoconference from our homes during the confinement. Continue reading “Nihil de nobis, sine nobis!” at the EEAS Social Dialogue
