Bank of Valletta & Karl Vella Foundation bring employee well-being into the workplace

Bank of Valletta, in collaboration with the Karl Vella Foundation, organised a well-being workshop that brought together employees from across the Bank to explore compassion, grief and psychological safety. The event encouraged open conversation about experiences that are often difficult to discuss, while highlighting the importance of creating supportive environments at work and in their personal lives.

Held in Rabat, the workshop featured two sessions delivered by Mark Calleja, a qualified professional in Training and Human Resources Management with expertise in Consciousness and Transpersonal Psychology from the Karl Vella Foundation.

The first session, “Grief – The Price of Love,” explored how individuals and families experience loss differently and highlighted the importance of support during difficult times. The second session, “Psychological Safety and Compassion at the Workplace,” examined how compassion, trust, and connection can strengthen well-being, relationships, and the workplace. BOV employees had the opportunity to speak openly about grief, challenge the stigma surrounding it, and take part in meaningful conversations about a subject that is often avoided. The sessions resonated strongly with attendees, many of whom highlighted the value of creating a safe space in which to explore and better understand the grieving process.

Mr Calleja encouraged more organisations to hold similar events for employees’ well-being, not only to raise awareness on sensitive topics, but also to give employees a safe space to come together and discuss experiences such as grief.

This initiative forms part of Bank of Valletta’s ongoing collaboration with the Karl Vella Foundation. The Bank has proudly supported the Foundation’s “Because You Matter” programme for years. To date, the programme has supported more than 400 people, with 254 beneficiaries currently receiving emotional support and one-to-one or family therapy. This service offers emotional and psychological support to patients, donors, and carers who travel abroad for specialised medical treatment. Support includes scheduled phone calls, check-ins, individual therapy, and crisis intervention by mental health professionals.

This collaboration between Bank of Valletta and the Karl Vella Foundation reflects both organisations’ commitment to making a positive impact in the community and supporting initiatives that promote well-being.

Coordinated by the BOV Corporate Social Responsibility Team, the workshop gave employees an opportunity to pause, connect, and openly discuss grief, mental health, resilience, and emotional well-being. It also reflected the shared commitment of Bank of Valletta and the Karl Vella Foundation to foster a workplace where people feel understood, supported, and comfortable seeking help.