u/OkSkill1636

Hello colleagues,

I'm a G6 staff member on a continuing appointment, based in New York, and I recently had a baby. I'm currently on parental leave, which ends at the end of the year. With nanny costs running $60-70K a year, I'm considering staying home with my child for two years and would like to request SLWOP.

I'd love to hear from anyone who has been through this:

1. What does the request process look like? Do I speak with my manager first, or is a formal email enough?

2. I work in a small office. How likely is approval, and what factors tend to decide it?

3. Is it better to request the full two years up front, or one year and then renew? Is there a maximum duration?

4. What happens to my health insurance during SLWOP, and what does it cost?

5. How does SLWOP affect my UNJSPF pension contributions and service credit? Is it possible to buy back the time?

6. Do I keep my post or lien, and what are my return rights at the end? If my husband loses his job can I return early?

7. Does SLWOP affect step increments, accrued annual leave, or my continuing appointment status?

8. Are there any alternatives worth considering, like part-time work or flexible arrangements?

9. Is there anything you wish you'd known or done differently?

Any advice or personal experience would be hugely appreciated. Thank you!

Just got the memo about the ICSC compensation package review finalized in July 2026. The General Assembly votes in Fall 2026 on whether to implement the new scales starting July 2027, retroactive to October 2025.

For those familiar with UN compensation cycles:

Has anyone been through a General Service salary survey implementation before? What was the actual increase like, and how messy was the retroactive payout process?

The local salary survey for NY wrapped in April 2026 after a year-long process. General Service and related categories supposedly saw "positive results" — anyone have actual numbers or intel on what percentage increases we're looking at?

Last increase was 2005. That's 22 years of cost-of-living adjustments only. If this passes in the GA, is July 2027 realistic, or do these things typically slip?

Has anyone calculated what the retroactive October 2025 adjustment would look like in real dollars?

Any G-staff who've been through this before — what should people actually expect?

Am I being cynical, or does anyone else see this as performative while the institution crumbles?

Also: the dependency allowance increase is insulting. Child allowance goes from $2,929 to $3,004 in year 1—that's $75/month. Over five years. In New York. And they're capping it at six kids.

This is for the Forest Hills area!