Have we learnt something from our experience in MERP and will we apply it in the future JMO II?

Union Syndicale Luxembourg wishes to share with you our deep concerns regarding the current working conditions in the MERP building and the risks of repeating the same mistakes in the re-design of the interior of the Jean Monnet II (JMO II) building.

Problems in MERP – What staff experience daily

  • Constant acoustic disturbance from phone calls and conversations in the open space
  • Hard surfaces that amplify, rather than absorb, sound
  • Lack of privacy, making confidential work and conversations extremely difficult
  • Stress and concentration loss for those performing cognitively demanding or sensitive tasks

These are not small inconveniences. Scientific studies consistently show that open-space offices lead to:

  • Higher levels of stress and distraction
  • Increased sick leave compared to staff in smaller offices
  • Reduced morale and productivity, particularly for knowledge workers, translators and proofreaders.

Why this matters

Our colleagues in MERP have first-hand evidence of these problems. With 34 000 people working in the Commission, the stakes are high: workplace design directly affects well-being, health, and the quality of our Institution’s output. The Commission’s mission depends on accuracy, confidentiality, and concentration – all of which are undermined by poor acoustic and spatial design.

USL’s demands for JMO II

To avoid repeating failures in MERP, USL insists that the JMO II project must:

  • Abandon the outdated open-plan default. The opinion of the Health, Security and Hygiene at Work Committee (CSHT) must be updated and taken into account by the Commission.
  • Maintain and expand smaller offices for translators, legal, HR, procurement and other services requiring concentration and confidentiality
  • Provide bookable individual offices (hotdesking with privacy) for staff who need confidential or translation work facilities
  • Integrate proper acoustic treatments: noise-absorbent ceilings and walls, noise barriers, and sufficient phone booths and meeting rooms
  • Ensure real staff consultation through representative surveys and the statutory staff committee – not limited chat threads that only reflect a small group.

The MERP building has shown us what does not work. JMO II must be designed for the way Commission staff actually work – not for architectural fashion or cost-cutting slogans. Only by putting staff well-being, confidentiality, and productivity at the heart of the design can the new building serve its purpose.

USL will continue to insist on these priorities, and we count on your support and feedback to strengthen our common voice.

Further reading

Wikipedia article on Jean Monnet I and II: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Monnet_2_building#HeroSection

OIL page on status of the Jean Monnet II building: https://eceuropaeu.sharepoint.com/sites/oil/SitePages/JMO2.aspx