Dear colleagues,
Many of you shared with us your surprise, and even anger, following the Administration’s sudden announcement of an almost immediate return to the office.
As soon as this decision of March 10 was taken, a decision that we consider hasty, clumsy and incomprehensible, ISAU took action. In fact, as of Monday 14 March, during a meeting with DIR/HRM, ISAU expressed its disagreement with:
- The suspension of the current telework policy;
- The significant delay in the publication of the flexible working arrangements policy;
- The last-minute announcement of the decision to return to the office: this lack of foresight does not leave enough time for colleagues to organize themselves according to their personal and family obligations.
Having received no valid explanation, we sent an email to ADG/ADM the following day, informing him of the feelings of frustration, disappointment and incomprehension that the decision to immediately return to the office has generated. ISAU thus requested:
- The postponement of the decision to return to the office;
- The release of the results of the online survey;
- The communication of the issuing date of the flexible working arrangements policy.
Even if ADG/ADM did acknowledge, in his response, that the decision to return to the office was communicated too late, he did not provide a clear answer as to the exact date of publication of the flexible working arrangements policy.
We therefore sent a second email to ADG/ADM on March 17 asking specifically to:
- Cancel the suspension of the current telework policy (thus allowing colleagues to continue teleworking); and
- Immediately communicate, to all staff, the date of publication of the policy on flexible working arrangements.
In response, ADG/ADM committed to communicate the date of publication and implementation of the flexible working arrangements policy by Friday 25 March. We had no response to our demand to cancel the suspension of the current telework policy. It is customary, however, for the Administration to refer to the host State’s policies, which is not the case here.
It is more than ever necessary for the Administration to listen to its staff and take the necessary measures to put an end to the growing anger and frustration felt by a large number of colleagues. As ISAU has repeatedly said, staff well-being must be a priority, and this, in the interest of the Organization.
Maxime BUN
ISAU President
