The term ‘place of employment’ means the geographic location where an employee of an EU institution is expected to perform his duties according to the employment contract. This location is stipulated in the employment contract and determines where the employee is based for work purposes.

According to article 20 of the Staff Regulations, an official is expected to live in a location that is compatible with the “proper performance of his duties”. some EU institutions define this as the ability to arrive in the headquarters premises within two hours of being notified about a service need.

Identifying the place of employment is essential for administrative, logistical, and legal reasons. It determines the applicable employment laws, tax regulations, and benefits, as well as the logistical arrangements for the employee’s daily work activities.

Some examples that underscore the importance of the ‘place of employment’:

• The amount of most allowances is affected by the place of employment as it is linked to the Correction Coefficient. If a staff member lives outside Brussels or Luxembourg, her allowances and most other elements of the remuneration package will be adjusted down- or upwards. Read the dedicated article to find out more about the Correction Coefficient.
• The annual ‘travel grant’ is calculated based on the distance between the ‘place of employment’ and ‘place of origin’.
• At the start of employment in an EU institution and when leaving it, staff members are entitled to compensation of ‘removal costs’. The PMO covers costs of moving personal belongings of the staff member and her family members both at the start of employment in an EU institution, and when either moving back to place of origin or another location in the EU.
• It’s the location from which the EU institutions staff member goes on missions (business trips). If the staff member wishes to go on mission from another location, the place of employment is used for a reference itinerary and the staff member has to cover any additional costs due to departing from another location, such as ‘place of origin’.