Hybrid work might end up rejected by workers themselves

Sep 22 2021

Most research into employment and worker preferences currently show that hybrid work has been heralded as the future of work. Many see the mix of remote work and office work as an ideal employment situation, with many companies across the globe playing around with such a concept. However, there is reason to believe that workers themselves might end up being the ones falling out of love for such a system of work. The issue is complex, with different employees finding diverse reasons as to why they might not prefer the hybridity on the work place. Some might find it difficult to switch seamlessly between home and office work environments, having to keep two different work spaces updated constantly and alternating between them.

Keeping technology, books and other important tools in one place might be made more difficult if the worker is forced to work from different spaces altogether. This is also worsened depending on the socio-economic status of the workers themselves. Some may have comfortable abodes to turn to, but not everyone is so lucky. Some employees might have to turn crammed living spaces into full-on work spaces. Others on the other hand, who wish to work up their way in the company ladder, might want to work more prominently in the office so as to be closer to their supervisors.

Some might end up feeling that despite being highly productive, their work is not being noticed by supervisors. They might feel dismissed or undervalued to no direct feedback being given. Social connections are also another major incentive for employees to work at the office. Bonding and working as a team has immense productivity value which being isolated at home does not provide. There are also studies which show that workers who spend more time with managers are more likely to rise up through the ranks. This is known as the proximity bias.

All this in mind, researches are seeing that workers consider showing up to the office a sacrifice worth making for several reasons. Bosses need to set up clear schedules as to who gets to show up at the office and how many times. If not, an imbalance between the more go-getter type employees and the rest could be created. For now, especially as we all deal with a pandemic, employers are urged to keep tabs on how workspaces can be adapted instead of jumping head straight into this model. It might turn out that the traditional office work could win out over the innovative.

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Afforestation project seeks to give Malta new breath with over 40,000 trees

Sep 22 2021

A new project called ‘Help Malta Breathe’, created and revealed by a group of 24 architects and engineers, seeks to give the Maltese islands over 40,000 new indigenous trees. The project proposes planting the trees in Inwadar National Park, which stretches from Zonqor Point to Marsaskala and Xghajra. Covering up to 315,000 square meters, the area currently consists of just abandoned fields and foreshore. Supported by a readily available irrigation source in the form of polished water from the Ta’ Barkat sewage treatment plant, the area would provide people with a fresh green landscape for al to enjoy.

The proposal captures the project’s intended goal through video format, featuring drone footage of what the area looks like as of writing this article. It then cuts to beautiful panoramic shots of what the site could look like in 20 year’ time should the proposal pass approval. Such artificial afforestation is not a new concept or practice for Malta. A similar exercise was one in the 1960s with a successful project carried out in the Mizieb limits of Manikata, Mellieha. Could this be the ambitious Malta sorely needs to tackle its environment problems?

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Photo Source: Periti Studio FB

Juventus manager Allegri says that next match against Spezia is a ‘relegation six-pointer’

Sep 22 2021

Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri has told reporters that today’s game against Spezia will be a ‘relegation six-pointer’. The Bianconeri haven’t had the best of starts, only gaining two points in their first four matches. That point tally is 11 points less than leaders Inter Milan who have played just one more game. This is the worst start Juventus fans have had to endure since 1961 when they finished the season in 12th place.

In the pre-match interview Allegri told reporters “Looking at the table right now Spezia v Juventus is a relegation six-pointer… we need to be realistic, we can’t talk about our goals as it stands,”. This is a far cry from the Juventus team he had managed before, with himself also admitting “There’s no point talking about the past, this is a different Juventus team.”

Allegri also explained what happened during the 2nd half of Juventus’ recent match against AC Milan where they lost their 1 goal lead, he said “After the break against Milan the same thing happened, we made mistakes when there was no pressure,”. That was the third time this season that Juventus had lost their lead, losing 2-1 to Napoli and drawing 2-2 to Udinese on the opening day.

This isn’t the start that Allegri would have hoped for, but he id aware that there is still time left. The Italian manager will be looking to stride Juventus into the Champions League places and maybe an unlikely title challenge considering the circumstances they find themselves now.

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Petition to remove masks for primary school students garners support

Sep 22 2021

Well over 2000 individuals have signed a petition calling for the removal of masks for primary, and now secondary, school students while seated in class. The education ministry had announced that despite schools seeing the return of PE, lab work and classroom birthday parties, kids will still have to wear face masks in class as part of the pandemic health measures for school return. Petition creator and concerned parent Evicka Grech stated that this measure would have serious repercussions on children and was overly excessive given the risks involved. She argued that wearing masks would massively impact speaking and writing learning skills.

With kids sitting down in ventilated classrooms and with desks distanced at 1.5 meters apart, the petition still supported the wearing of masks at all other times except for when eating and engaging in physical activity. But with restaurants allowing tables of up to six people and other standing events being permissible, sitting in a classroom with a mask on made no sense for Grech and all the others supporting the petition. Elsewhere, mask-wearing is mandatory for primary school children in Spain, France and Italy, whereas in Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden and the UK it is not obliged.

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