Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/232206
44 Events maltatoday, Sunday, 22 December 2013 HSBC Malta evaluates flexible working for better work-life balance The many benefits of flexible work arrangements for businesses and employees alike were explored during an employee development session organised as part of HSBC's Diversity and Inclusion Awareness month. This was conducted by psychologists and training consultants Patrick Psaila and Beverly Cutajar from ThinkTalent Ltd, who tackled the various business benefits of having more flexible working conditions. "The notion of flexible working resulted from the necessity of achieving a better work and life balance, which is crucial for employees' wellbeing," explained Mr Psaila. "Globally, more and more companies are realising that it pays them to have flexible working arrangements. As a strategy, flexibility gives companies added value by allowing them to have and retain the best talent available. Moreover, this way, employees are out in the world more and open to input and inspiration as they work flexible hours to fit in their needs and responsibilities." Other benefits for companies and employees include reduced sick leave and less stress-related illness, increased physical exercise and energy and increased control over work thus resulting in improved health and well-being. Flexible working also encourages a diverse workforce. Participants were shown a video with testimonials from companies that have fully embraced flexibility, underlining the role of technology in facilitating more flexible work arrangements. Cutajar engaged HSBC employees in focus groups and discussed the diverse ways in which flexible working could benefit the Bank. Feedback from these exercises was then discussed as a group. HSBC Malta Diversity and Inclusion month, organised annually, involves an extensive programme of activities and initiatives to help further diversity and inclusion throughout the Bank. More information about HSBC's Diversity and Inclusion initiatives, as well as its corporate sustainability activities, is available online at www.hsbcmalta.com Emirates launches a daily A380 service to Mauritius HSBC Malta employees in focus groups discussing benefits of flexible work arrangements during diversity and inclusion employee training Bay Street in Pepsi promotion In its latest fabulous promotion Pepsi have linked up with Bay Street and, for a limited time, are offering three unique experiences. With every six-pack of 1.5-litre Pepsi soft drinks this month (December) you will receive a flyer with three coupons: • a free ice-skating session at the only genuine ice-skating rink in Malta at Bay Street; • a free Pepsi with every doner kebab or shish kebab purchased from Kebab Express on Level 0 at Bay Street; and • a Legendary Chicken Burger and Pep- Emirates, a global connector of people and places launched its 24th A380 route, working with its partners in Mauritius to say "Hello A380" in style. At the airport ceremony to welcome the first daily A380 service, Emirates signed a new and enhanced 10 year commercial cooperation agreement with Air Mauritius, and a renewed Memorandum of Understanding with the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority. The A380 allows Emirates to bring an extra 153 passengers each day to the beautiful island set in middle of the Indian Ocean. It is the first airline in the world to operate an A380 service to a destination in the Indian Ocean. Travel demand to the island is growing, and Emirates in 2012 carried over 350,000 passengers and 6,000 tonnes of cargo between Mauritius and its global network of 130-plus destinations spanning 78 countries. The inaugural A380 daily service arrived at Mauritius' Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport with over 500 passengers and VIP delegation from Emirates. "Since August 2008 Emirates has served over 18 million passengers on our A380s. Our customers love it, and we continue to see a big de- mand to fly on the aircraft," said Thierry Antinori, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, Emirates Airline. "Our A380 service to Mauritius means passengers from key markets such as London, Paris, Moscow and Shanghai, flying via our hub in Dubai, now have the chance to experience a seamless Emirates A380 experience including the world-class service and product across First Class, Business Class and Economy Class for which the airline is renowned." Mauritius is renowned for its world-class beaches and local hospitality. To showcase those attributes and to celebrate the arrival of the A380, Emirates worked with 100 local Pirogue fishermen to create a Mauritian-style "Hello A380" greeting to all global travellers. This was orchestrated in the stunning setting of Blue Bay Reserve Marine Park, located in the south-east of the island. The A380 will operate as flight EK 701 departing from Dubai International Airport at 03.10 hours and arriving in Mauritius at 09.40. The return flight EK 702 will depart at 18.20 hours and arrives in Dubai at 01.10 the next day. Emirates also operates a second daily flight to the Andre Viljoen, CEO, Air Mauritius and Thierry Antinori, Executive Vice President, Chief Commercial Officer, Emirates Airline sign an agreement to expand the airlines' commercial cooperation country using a Boeing 777-300. Mauritius joins an illustrious list of global destinations Emirates operates its flagship aircraft to: Dubai, Amsterdam, Auckland, Bangkok, Beijing, Brisbane, Hong Kong, Jeddah, Kuala Lumpur, London Heathrow, Manchester, Melbourne, Moscow, Munich, New York JFK, Paris, Rome, Seoul, Singapore, Shanghai, Sydney, Toronto and most recently Los Angeles which launched earlier this month. Emirates is the largest operator of the A380 in the world with a fleet of 42 and 98 more on order. Emirates operates four scheduled flights weekly from Malta to Dubai via Larnaka, Cyprus, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. While on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, Emirates operates direct flights from Dubai to Malta and return flights fly via Tripoli. For more details about Emirates or to book your flights to Mauritius, please visit: www.emirates.com or contact your preferred travel agent. si for €9.95 at the Hard Rock Cafe in Bay Street. According to Pepsi Executive Gabriella Gusman: "This co-promotion between Bay Street and Pepsi fits in well with the Pepsi Live for Now platform that targets youths and follows fast on the successful Beyoncé promotion that finished last month." This promotion will run for the entire month of December, with vouchers being redeemed until the end of January. For more information telephone 21 380600 or visit the Bay Street Facebook page www.facebook.com/ baystreetmalta Vodafone touches hearts at Christmas Members of the finance team at Vodafone put their computers and number crunching away for a day to remember. Armed with paint brushes, brooms and lots of Christmas spirit, the team spent a day renovating the Fra Diego Home in Hamrun just in time for Christmas. Run with lots of love by the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Fra Diego welcomes children and young adults from diverse family backgrounds. The residents are united by their experiences of domestic violence, severe negligence and exposure to mental and psychological abuse. The nine children currently living at Fra Diego were treated to a fun-filled afternoon courtesy also of the Eden Super Bowl. This was the beginning of a day of surprises starting with a Santa stocking each and accompanying gift. All this in their newly refurbished home brightly decorated for the Christmas season. Freshly laid tiles in the bathrooms, accompanying a new plaster and paint job the length of the residence brought shy smiles to the children's faces. This together with reorganised rooms, a new Library and best of all a computer room all decked up by Vodafone. "The sparkle in the kids eyes was worth every minute of our time at Fra Diego," remarked Roberta Pace from Vodafone Malta Foundation. "You could see the smiles on their faces as the Christmas lights lit up their newly refurbished premises. Words cannot express their joy." Coffee flowed through the day with a well-deserved treat of pizza for the teams, nuns and children who joined in. "This is what Vodafone is all about," said Michel Macelli. "Empowering these children to be able to face the challenges life will undoubtedly throw at them, whilst healing those they have already faced."