The Social Global Office

According to the European Parliament’s website, as of May 2019, the total number of civil servants, temporary, and contract staff working for the Parliament in Brussels was over 5,000. On any given day there may be over 10,000 people on Parliament’s premises, meaning it is an incredibly busy place with lots of social interaction occurring. Social interaction is necessary for the success of an office, including EU institutions, because it creates a space for a better work environment, less stress, and better employee performance.

As an extrovert, I enjoy the company of others and a more open office layout. Communicating on a regular basis with different individuals gives me more energy than sitting alone in an office to work. Thankfully, my office was smaller than many of my peers’, only having six people total working for the MEP. The smaller office gave me the opportunity to know my colleagues on a more personal level through more frequent interaction, which in turn motivated me and ease the stress of working in a new place.

My office had a mix of work-related and nonwork-related social interaction, from eating lunch together to having office meetings. Most days, the interns in my office met for lunch in the Parliamentary cafeteria. During this hour break, we got the time to learn about each other on a more personal level, which for me, strengthened my appreciation for my coworkers and breaking down the barriers so we could communicate clearly. It is normal for interns and trainees to take an hour or so lunches in the Parliamentary cafeteria. These informal lunches because of one of the most positive social aspects of my study abroad experience, giving me the ability to learn more about Maltese culture and politics and how my life in the United States differed from many Europeans.

The most rewarding part of my job was being able to discuss topics with my coworkers throughout the day and collaborate on different projects we were working on. As an intern for an MEP, one of my main responsibilities was drafting amendments to proposed legislation and presenting them to my boss and MEP. According to the European Parliament, mending and rewriting legislation is one of the main jobs of MEPs.

Many times, I would work with the two other interns in my office to craft these amendments. We had a process where first, we would individually read the legislation and brainstorm amendments. Then, we would come back together for discussion and critique the suggestions we made before presenting the final list of amendments to our boss. This collaborative process allowed us to create more precise and strategic amendments while also improving my knowledge about the amendment process. I think it is easy to read a book and take a test on the European Union but working inside one of its institutions with other people provides you with valuable information and hands-on learning experience.

Throughout my two months in Brussels, I learned more about my work ethic and how I fit in socially to the interconnected global world. I learned that I work best in groups, with frequent social interaction to keep me on track and motivate me. I enjoy presenting my projects to others and listening to their ideas and feedback. Being able to discuss my questions and concerns with a project gave me the opportunity to connect with my bosses and coworkers while understanding where the work I was doing would fit into the overarching structure of the European Union. I could not have accomplished as much as I did this past semester without social interaction in the workplace.