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10 COMMERCIAL 10.6.2021 FOR employees in almost every in- dustry worldwide, the last year has been challenging as never before. The COVID-19 pandemic has trans- formed lives and livelihoods, forcing employees to adapt to a sudden shift in working practices and family life, while facing mental health risks. At Malta's Planning Authority (PA), the over 400-strong team has likewise had to roll with the changes brought over the last year – but they have not had to do it alone. Supporting them in the endeavour is now a newly es- tablished Unit focused entirely on the wellbeing and development of em- ployees, both during this time of un- certainty and beyond. "The Employee Development and Wellbeing Unit is a trailblazing con- cept that is being made into a reality" explains Daniela Farrugia Camoin, who is leading the way forward for the new Unit. "Few organisations, even in the private sector, have a dedicat- ed division such as this, which fully concentrates on employee wellbeing. Following the appointment of Martin Saliba as the new executive Chair- person, back in December 2019, he set the ball rolling for this Unit to get set up. With the pandemic kicking in soon after, the need for this Unit was accelerated. Wellbeing, after all, is so much more than just physical health. It is emotional, mental, physical and, for some, also spiritual. Our scope is to ensure that our staff 's holistic needs are prioritised, while we also strengthen our internal communica- tion and sense of community." Within the new Unit's remit are some tasks and resources previously handled by the PA's Human Resourc- es Unit. The Unit has already started to roll out a packed schedule of pro- grammes and themed initiatives. "Our programmes will be custom- ised to suit our employees' skills, abilities and needs, from the feed- back we receive by our staff members themselves. These themed initiatives will include varied measures, such as introducing the concept of walking meetings and coffee morning meet- ings, as well as regular surveys and hubs which will be created to further focus on specific aspects of wellbe- ing, such as health and fitness and motivation amongst others," Farrugia Camoin said. "Besides covering the physical and psychological aspects of wellbeing, we will also be supporting our team on a professional level through continued flexibility in working hours, a compa- ny culture of trust, and task list own- ership. We want our employees not to feel shackled but share the discipline of a responsible working flexibility, which is why we are planning to of- fer bespoke quiet rooms in our work- space, where an employee can retreat to focus, re-energise or destress." The setting up of this Unit further crystallises the proactive, employ- ee-focused culture that has been in place at the PA for decades. As one of the first organisations in Malta to in- troduce teleworking and hotdesking, the transition to the new working re- ality created by the pandemic was not too drastic for PA staff. Nevertheless, lessons learned during the health cri- sis are forging the future of work at the PA, as Farrugia Camoin and her Unit's specialised staff translate the organisation's commitment to innova- tion into support for employees in a post-COVID-19 world. "Although they will always be able to telework, some staff will wish to return to the office once it is safe to do so," highlights Farrugia Camoin, "which means they will shift their working environment from home – with all its benefits of comfort, out- door space and accessibility – back to our office. So, the plan is to make our offices more modern and inviting, to make the transition back a happy one. We want our staff to feel content and Following a year that has redefined work processes and priorities, Malta's Planning Authority has opened a new Employee Development and Wellbeing Unit to focus on the holistic wellbeing of its staff. Led by Daniela Farrugia Camoin, the Unit is a clear sign of what to expect in a post-pandemic world of work Putting wellbeing into practice "The PA has always embraced change and innovative ideas, and here we have the opportunity to pioneer a new culture of wellbeing both for our team and for other organisations on a wider scale"

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