in Three Languages

Video 01  French  German

Video 02  French  German

Video 01

English Video Production – voice-over

The recent pandemic has accelerated the need for meaningful transformation in workplaces, be it the creation of new forms of work, new processes, new communication tools, and diverse modes of training delivery, amongst others.

We have all seen necessity drive innovation and creativity when we witnessed workers talking to customers through perpex, taxis delivering groceries instead of people, children “attending” school in their bedrooms whilst their parents were meeting colleagues and customers on separate screens in the next room.

The silver lining of COVID was, perhaps, the realisation of how crucial change is to ensure resilience, competitiveness and sustainability.  Adapting to the new normal has created opportunities for employers and employees alike to embrace this much needed change because ultimately, we should all benefit from environmental and digital transitions.

Transformation of workplaces caused by the restrictions imposed by COVID led the MEA to strengthen tripartite discussions on the modernisation of work organisation, the development of new business strategies. At the same time, the MEA felt the need to connect with European partners for exchanging practices, experiences and relevant data regarding the challenges of business transformations.

Through the “Regeneration Plan for Workplaces” project – co-financed by the European Union – the Malta Employers Association, as lead partner, together with SGI Europe and the General Workers Union joined forces to conduct ground-breaking research on the identification of bottlenecks in business transformation that can often be caused by weak planning and communication.  Serious bottlenecks can sometimes impede transformation projects from taking-off the ground, whilst others deprive the employer, the employee or both from reaping the full benefit of change.

This project, in fact:

• Uncovered some of those business strategies and sustainable workplace transformations that were undertaken during and after COVID;
• Identified challenges posed by capacity and adaptation gaps in the management of change;
• Created a framework of promoting and sharing practices across national and European levels through SGI Europe;
• Designed solutions for enterprises for strengthening adaptation and management of change suggesting new business strategies and tips for sustainable workplace transformations;
• Disseminated information and raised awareness about the adaptation process challenges, especially for digital and environmental transition.

The project achieved its objectives through the fulfilment of a number of milestones.  These included:

• Three interactive Round Table discussions with a sectoral dimension and the participation of 40 companies;
• The collection and evaluation of data from an extensive survey covering 175 companies and over 200 employees;
• A dialogue session in Brussels amongst European Social Partners where expertise and experiences were collected through the active participation of the MEA’s European counterparts. This activity and the invaluable effort of SGI Europe contributed in no small measure towards better coordination amongst social partners to improve business performance and change management procedures to ensure more resilient workplaces.
• The production of a Manual called ‘Regeneration Plan to Build Stronger Workplaces’. Leveraging the primary and secondary research conducted by an appointed expert, this is the culmination of the project.  It will serve as a reference for all businesses across Europe which embark on transformation initiatives.

The European Commission’s support in the realisation of the “Regeneration Plan for Workplaces” project has enabled the Malta Employers’ Association and SGI Europe to serve on the front line in the challenges faced by business in implementing transformation and change.   By means of this project, Employer Organisations all over Europe are now better armed and better placed to provide tangible value to their members and communities by means of anticipation, preparation and adaptation strategies for change.

The Project Partners are more than confident that with the outcome of this project we will have more Resilient Workplaces across Europe!

Video 02

English Video Production – voice-over

Transformation projects are necessary in every business and their benefits are visible and tangible for both the employer and the employee because they bring about new efficiencies, resilience and sustainability.

However, both the progress and success of transformation projects are often hindered by internal inertia or resistance that sometimes results from a lack of understanding about the motivation behind changes that are being planned and requested.

The “Regeneration Plan for Workplaces” project – co-financed by the European Union – facilitated pioneering research on the identification of bottlenecks in business transformation.

The Project was conducted by the Malta Employers Association as the lead partner with the collaboration of SGI Europe and the General Workers Union.

This theme of the project was rendered increasingly topical during and after the COVID-19 pandemic due to the accelerated pace of transformation that was dictated by challenging circumstances characterized by restrictions and heightened uncertainty.

Extensive primary and secondary research was conducted as part of this project by means of literature reviews, focus groups, surveys with employers and workers, and sectorial round-table discussions.

The project findings showed that business transformation is sometimes hampered by weak planning or communication between management and employees.  The project also found that employees welcome change especially when they are thoroughly involved and trained.  Workers tend to appreciate the need for change because this renders their workplaces more resilient and efficient.  In other words, workers like to work smarter not harder.

The vast majority of employers reported that the level of competition in the market was ever increasing and that it was vital for their companies to constantly innovate to remain resilient and competitive.

Research was also conducted into changes in employee behavioural as a result of newly introduced transformation measures.  Encouragingly, it emerged that the attitude towards work was generally improved and only a minority of employers reported a drop in productivity.  All the same, those who reported that change brought about no change in productivity were not an insignificant number.

Workplaces and processes are often perceived to become more complex after change especially when change is not properly engineered and consists solely of an additional layer of digitalisation.

The knowledge gained from this project as well as the exchange of best practice has been carefully analysed, validated and documented by the project research team.  This has enabled the articulation of a Manual entitled “Regeneration Plan to Build Stronger Workplaces”.  This toolkit is the tangible product of this project and which will be circulated across the EU.  From the findings of the research conducted, the Manual presents a step-by-step guide for companies to utilize during their business transformation and/or upgrading processes.  It will enable all users to learn from the pitfalls of others and to benefit from the success stories that have been shared with us all.

Successful transformations are those which bring about win-win-win situations to Employers, Employees and Customers.  Successful transformations are those which support our businesses to become more resilient, sustainable and competitive.

By means of the research and the Manual derived from this project therefore, we have

• raised awareness about the adaptation process challenges, especially for the digital and environmental transition
• Identified the bottlenecks
• Designed and documented solutions for enterprises for strengthening adaptation to the post-COVID management changes, new business strategies and sustainable workplace transformation;
• Created a framework of promoting and sharing practices from national and European level, with the cross-industry EU social partner;

The partners, MEA, SGI Europe and GWU have raised their profile and increased their capacity to fulfil their roles and responsibilities towards their members and enhance their abilities to act as responsible social partners to the benefit of the economic and social development of their respective territories.