# Well-being of EU officials’ partners and spouses

- Link: https://euemployment.eu/wellbeing-spouses-of-eu-officials/
- Published: 2022-11-05T16:34:00+01:00
- Author: Ben

Congrats, you’ve done it, you’ve gotten the coveted job in an EU institution and
the benefits that come with it. And, best of all, your partner has agreed to relocate
together with you to a different country or at least a different city. You say “
Awesome, what’s there to worry about?!” But is it that simple? Read on.

**What does your day look like?** Are you leaving home for the office every day,
learning a ton of new things, interacting with colleagues from a dozen or more countries,
having lunches in the business district with new people every day? Are you going
on missions that help you to spice up the daily grind and let you score some daily
[allowances](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/allowances/) and frequent flyer miles?
Is your work assessed on merit and you get feedback on what you do on regular basis,
mostly positive? You can probably answer with a “yes” to at least some of these 
questions.

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**What does your significant other’s day look like?** Yeah, there is all the “free”
time, but how is it spent? Is there anything meaningful your partner can do? Of 
course, there are the daily chores, and, if you have kids, taking care about them.
But is it enough for an adult? Does your partner integrate well in the city and 
in some local community? Are they able to keep up with their hobby or exercise regularly?
Are the coping well with leaving a job they previously had back home? Do they have
a social support network or at least people back home with whom they can be in touch?

If you answer with a “no” or “I don’t know” to at least some of the above questions,
you should not let your partner’s mental health slip from your attention as it can
lead to significant psychological issues and other negative consequences, even divorce.
Try to regularly ‘touch base’ about your partner’s wellbeing and be supportive of
any initiatives. Below are some suggestions to get you started.  

## Support to employees’ partners in EU institutions

In contrast to many international businesses and embassies who have programs for
involving their employees’ spouses in some type of activity, sometimes even offering
them jobs, the EU institutions have no such programmes. The only support EU employees’
spouses really have is healthcare insurance under the [Joint Insurance Sickness Scheme or JSIS](https://euemployment.eu/jsis-joint-sickness-insurance-scheme-guide/).

Additionally, employees of the EU institutions in Brussels and Luxembourg have free
access to psychological counselling independent of whether the reason is work- or
private life-related.

And that’s about it.

## What can an employee of EU institutions do to help with partner’s psychological problems?

### Helping to find work

For most people these days work is, among other things, a significant source of 
self-esteem and even part of personal identity. Helping your partner to do something
meaningful abroad is one of the ways how to help them to take good self-care.

Some people are able to keep on working for the same employer even if they change
countries. Before moving enquire with your partner’s employer whether they are open
to such arrangements. This is an option not only for the self-employed, but also
people working for large corporations. One might be able to keep on working for 
the same business in a different country.

If it’s not possible to keep on doing the same stuff your partner did while at home,
here are some other tips:

 * Follow **vacancies in the institution you’re working in**. Maybe there’s something
   relevant for your partner.
 * Consider encouraging your partner **working as an ‘interim’** at your institution.
   These are temporary employment positions in EU institutions that are filled by
   short-term employees from the so-call ‘work agencies’ like Manpower. While the
   pay is that of the locals, it’s a good way how to experience your institution
   and might be a segway into a permanent job. This is because interim positions
   let one acquaint with the institution and give a significant advantage during
   a work interview and any tests.
 * Sign up for the local **expats Facebook groups** and your nationality group(s)
   in the particular city or country. Local businesses often post work offers there
   and are looking for people that might help them expand/be represented in your
   home country market.
 * Explore **vacancies at multinationals **as there are sometimes hiring professionals
   who do not have a command of the local language.
 * If your partner is good at writing or speaking, maybe s/he can become a **foreign
   correspondent** for one of your home-country media.
 * Or maybe this is the time to consider **monetizing that hobby** or an alternative
   career track your partner thought about in the past but never had the time to
   actually do.  

### Studying

[[

A surprising number of EU institutions employees’ spouses take up studies. It might
be that long overdue master’s degree or a complete career reorientation, or any 
other reason.

Studies as an EU official’s spouse might be easier to start than finding a job locally
and even better for your financial situation in the future.

It also pays to remember to explore Erasmus+ and similar EU programmes. Let the 
EU pay for a job training in a different country that you’re anyway already living
in.

If any of the above study goals are too ambitious, you could study the local language
for a while to help with integration. Even the less well-off EU member states usually
offer free or heavily discounted language classes for locally residing foreigners.

### Expat communities

Facebook has received a lot of bad press lately, however it’s still a great networking
and people organization tool. You and your spouse should join the local expats group
on Facebook and also a group where your compatriots meet online. This might help
not only with socializing, but finding an apartment, a nanny or even a job in a 
fellow expat’s company.

### Playgroups for parents with kids

If you have younger kids, this is an good way for your spouse to find some local
buddies/girlfriends that not only help to integrate in the local community, but 
also will help with any emergency and provide a fast-tract to finding the best local
doctors, extracurricular activities for kids and the like.

Again, best to consult Facebook or expats in a similar situation as you.

### Embassy women’s clubs

In most EU cities female spouses of embassy staff run a women’s club that mostly
deals with charity work, but often is active socially. They might organize not only
Xmas donation drives, but have a regular book reading, jogging or other club that
your spouse might be interested.

To get in touch, either search Facebook or ask your embassy whether they have information.

Non-working spouses of expats often have playgroups and playdates for their smaller
kiddos. Often the meet once week either in a park, a café or a member’s home.

### JSIS cover

[⌊JSIS website user instruction⌉⌊JSIS website user instruction⌉[

Snapshot of JSIS online

[[

In case if you find yourself in a situation where your partner starts to develop
any psychological problems that you are unable to successfully deal with, remember
about [JSIS or the EU health insurance scheme](https://euemployment.eu/jsis-joint-sickness-insurance-scheme-guide/).
Among other things the scheme also covers psychological help.

The [JSIS](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/joint-sickness-insurance-scheme-jsis/)
rules generally provide 30 psychologist’s or psychotherapists sessions in a two 
year period for one person. If your spouse is covered by [JSIS](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/joint-sickness-insurance-scheme-jsis/),
s/he too can benefit from this.

Professional help can be sought locally, but [JSIS](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/joint-sickness-insurance-scheme-jsis/)
also reimburses remote assistance, for example, psychotherapist’s sessions over 
Skype if you prefer to have it in your native language.

The rules to have these expenses reimbursed are not overly complicated, however,
it’s best to check beforehand to avoid any unnecessary expenses.

> I wrote this article to make it easier to understand the sometimes complex EU 
> HR and administrative rules. However, your individual case might have unique angles
> due to prior work experience, family situation, or other factors.
> **Where to ask
> questions?**Rather than leaving a comment below, please bring your questions to
> our [**Jobs in EU Institutions Facebook Group**](https://www.facebook.com/groups/jobs.in.eu.institutions).
> We have nearly 10,000 members there, including EU ‘insiders’, so you will receive
> a much faster and more thorough reply from me and the community.**Looking for 
> weekly ‘Zero EPSO’ vacancies across EU institutions** **and daily tips?**Follow
> the [**Jobs in EU Institutions Facebook Page**](https://www.facebook.com/people/Jobs-in-EU-Institutions/61556372262919/)
> and join alongside over 6,000 other followers.Best regards,**Ben**