# Place of employment

- Link: https://euemployment.eu/glossary/place-of-employment/
- Published: 2024-02-24T20:34:58+01:00
- Author: Ben

**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](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/staff-regulations/),
an [official](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/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](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/allowances/)
   is affected by the place of employment as it is linked to the [Correction Coefficient](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/correction-coefficient/).
   If a staff member lives outside Brussels or Luxembourg, her [allowances](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/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](https://euemployment.eu/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](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/paymasters-office-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](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/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](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/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’.