Survey shows increase in work related mental health issues over 1 year

Aug 8 2022

Here are some statistics as reported by a new survey by Misco which continues to build on a similar survey from last year. The data, collected in the third edition of the Employee Well-Being at the Workplace survey, is part of a project which began in 2020 in response to the COVD-19 pandemic.

79% of employees experienced mental health issues related to their work – up from 63% in 2021. 63% of respondents rated positively one a scale of 1 to 4. Positive responses dropped from 69% last year. 68% reported mental health problems due to work in the past 12 months – everything from stress to anxiety.

More than half (52%) worked more than 40 hours a week. 58% considered their job stressful, going up from 47% in 2021. 43% claimed to be subjected to heavy workloads. 41% touted tight deadlines.

40% blamed trouble concentrating for their mental health issues. 29% pointed to colleague conflict. Employers taking mental health issues seriously increased – up to 56% from 53% in 2021.

The number of people knowing who to turn to if experiencing mental health issues decreased to 48% from 53%. 72% of employees never disclosed their issues with superiors, increasing from 68% in 2021.

You can find the 2021 report here.

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MUT takes Mario Mallia firing to court

Aug 8 2022

The Malta Union of Teachers has filed court proceedings against St. Albert’s College before the Industrial Tribunal for the unjust dismissal of former headmaster Mario Mallia.

In a declaration in front of the Industrial Tribunal, Mallia explained that he had first been employed as deputy headmaster in 2003 but was later promoted to full time headmaster with an indefinite contract of employment.

He also confirmed that he had received a final warning on the 8th of July before his sacking, whilst he was at home recovering from the COVID-19.

The former headmaster stated that he had replied on July 8th with a detailed explanation and refusal of the accusations made against him. However, only a couple weeks after his warning, Mallia received another email this time concerning his termination due to “Usurpation of and/or use of employer’s property without obtaining prior consent, with aggravating circumstances” and “insubordination with aggravating circumstances.”

Mallia also claimed that the public statement from the Rector two days after his dismissal was only made for ‘public sympathy’ and was also untruthful.

The former headmaster’s lawyers asked the Tribunal to declare that his employment had been terminated unfairly and order his reinstatement.

In a press conference outside the law courts, current MUT president Marco Bonnici revealed the MUT’s support for Mario Mallia stating that the firing was unjust as normal and established procedures had not been followed and that the reasons given for his sacking were ‘unfounded and irrelevant’.

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First summer storm to hit Malta between Wednesday and Saturday

Aug 8 2022

Various weather forecasters have revealed that the first summer storm is expected to hit between Wednesday and Friday.

According to ‘It-Temp Madwarna’, the weather next week is expected to be relatively clear and sunny, but some isolated thunder storms could hit between Wednesday 10/8 and Saturday 13/8.

The weather is set to feel humid throughout the night, with the UV meter set to drop to around 9 and 10. Winds are also set to be relatively light with varying directions.

Maximum temperatures are expected to drop to 31°C from the previous 34°C. Minimal temperatures are set to settle at around 24 to 25°C. As previously reported, sea temperatures have reached up to around 29°C, around 3°C hotter than the August average.

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Maltese waters hit 29°C as Mediterranean continues to heat up

Aug 8 2022

According to news portal ‘It-Temp Madwarna’, the sea around the Maltese islands has hit 29°C, which is 3°C hotter than the August average.

The news portal further informed readers that some parts of the Western Mediterranean Sea have heated up at 5°C higher than the average.

This beat a previous record set in 2003, a time period when Western European waters also experienced massive spikes in heat. A main reason for this, the portal explained, was the lack of wind which causes the mixing of currents.

This heating up is causing marine organisms to have less oxygen to breathe and thus to adapt to the new water conditions. Many species are in fact dying out due to this overall increase in temperature.

The increase in heat poses the threat of worse storms as well, potentially causing damage to marine infrastructure as well as having other consequences on land. This comes as various European countries experience heat waves and rampant fires being largely associated to climate change.

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