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STU/69th Council/22/005
17 March 2022

Dear colleagues,

On Thursday 10 March 2022, ADG/ADM sent a note to HQ staff asking everyone to return to office on a full-time basis as of Monday 14 March 2022, providing the latest recommendations of the host country as the basis for the decision.

Although the host country, while lifting teleworking as an obligation, recommends the establishment of a dialogue between employers and employees to jointly define best suited work conditions, this decision has fallen on UNESCO staff without any previous discussion or exchange.

In a context where COVID-19 cases are currently increasing and while other international organizations based in Europe, including in Paris, continue teleworking, many staff members find it difficult to understand the rationale for the return to a full-time presence working modality.

The staff adapted and embraced teleworking when it was needed and requested by the Organization. Personal compromises were necessary and despite the new obstacles linked to physical distance, the staff kept its motivation and learnt to work in such an environment, ensuring all throughout the pandemic that UNESCO’s mission was accomplished.

Therefore, the decision to rush back to the “old normality” does not seem to consider neither the benefits of telework as highlighted by both WHO and ILO, nor the lessons learned from the past two years and lacks consideration for crucial dimensions such as work-life balance, gender equality and impact on the environment of human activity.

STU is fully empathetic with colleagues living a situation of stress and pressure especially those with small children and families in their care.

Concerning the sanitary measures described in the announcement and the immediate suspension of the majority of precautions put in place to limit the propagation of COVID, this is also a source of concern among staff. Many colleagues are uncomfortable and feel that their health may be exposed to unnecessary risks. The proposed changes including but not limited to office sharing, elimination of distancing measures, and the suspension of the obligation of visitors to present a vaccination pass seem premature, particularly in the absence of clear measures to be immediately applied in the event of new cases. 

Based on the above, STU finds this decision untimely, inappropriate and in contradiction with Director-General’s reiterated recognition for what has been collectively, innovatively and creatively achieved by the staff while delivering on a teleworking modality. Furthermore, this decision goes in the opposite direction of the views expressed by the staff in the survey conducted late February.

In this regard, STU regrets the delayed publication of the new teleworking policy, discussed with HRM and ADM in summer 2020, as well as the suspension of the previous teleworking policy.

STU will continue to work and dialogue with the Administration so that a comprehensive and flexible teleworking policy is urgently finalized and proposed to staff.

Best regards,

The STU Council.