Kicking off on 6th October 2021, Grant Thornton Malta will begin three days of pertinent and timely panel discussions with the first relating to ‘the hybrid office: productivity, social dynamics, and the way forward’.

The local advisory firm, forming part of the wider Grant Thornton network, is spearheading the online forum, entitled: Shaping Malta’s Future: Governance and Sustainability, just days before Malta’s Government announces its national budget for 2022.

Taking place between 2.30pm and 5.15pm between 6-8th October, Grant Thornton Malta will host a range of discussions, from embracing the digital revolution; financing during and post-COIVD; enabling a culture shift vis-à-vis Malta’s greylisting; and the pandemic and an alternative outlook to GDP. The advisory firm is encouraging all those who are interested to register and participate in the discussions by putting forward their questions. 

Each day, the forum will host a total of three panel discussions, with issues surrounding the favoured post-COVID corporate work approach of ‘the hybrid office’ being discussed in the very first panel. In addition, it has been primed as a key opportunity to network with other business professionals in the company's virtual lounge.

The Hybrid Office

Taking part in the discussion will be Kjersti Arntsen – Director People & Culture, Grant Thornton International, Gerd Bergh – Head of Employee Experience, Betsson Group, Finian Massa – ICT Solution and Joyce Cassar – Permanent Secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister for People and Standards.

The question of whether remote working will be the new norm will be considered by examining the problems that could possibly inhibit such a new reality.

On one hand, firms benefit from less office space and less commuting time. On the other hand, issues of work-life balance, decentralisation of control, and the path towards an efficient productivity cap diminish this possibility. This session, therefore, explores the viability of telework beyond COVID-19.

On an EU-wide level, the proportion of those working from home was steadily on the rise, with around 5.4 per cent of total EU employees claiming to work remotely.

Malta had itself experienced a slow year-on-year increase in this regard, and, during the pandemic, it was found that 12 per cent of EU employees and 15 per cent of Maltese employees were fully working remotely.

According to a Malta Employer Association survey, the highest increase in telework has been attributed to the gaming industry and the financial sectors. It could also be noted from the survey that there seemed to be a positive relationship between company size and teleworking arrangements. This may be due to larger companies being better disposed to accommodate such arrangements, both in terms of logistics and from an expense standpoint – however, Grant Thornton Malta’s panel guests will be able to better share their experience in this regard.

According to the same survey, it was found that some sectors experienced productivity increases when increasing remote working arrangements, such as gaming, finance and insurance. This, however, was not the case for education and retail industries.

Identifying standard procedures that have been disrupted through remote working, such as management checking up on staff in person, staff socialising at canteens and group meetings, the panel will delve into various solutions that have emerged since the pandemic to counter such disruptions.

Use of monitoring and surveillance tools, efficiency-inducing mechanics providing for effective progress reviews and the use of virtual training will be touched upon as the main drivers to bypass the stumbling blocks from remote working and online communication.

Lastly, the panel will also delve into the impacts of remote working on Malta’s property market, with commercial letting having taken a hit over the past two years.

Grant Thornton Malta’s first day of discussions will also see panel discussions on embracing the digital revolution and governance strategies to drive business sustainability.

Click here to register for the online event, providing viewers with the option to attend any of the nine discussions taking place between 6-8th October.