How should Israelis respond to hostility amid war tensions?

Israelis and Jews around the world are fighting two wars: the first on the physical battleground with Hamas in Gaza, and the second online as information warfare against keyboard warriors. While the war rages on, those who feel the need to explain the country’s actions may face challenges against those who may be misinformed about the situation.

“We instruct employees that in the case of a hostile situation, although it has not yet occurred, they should communicate using facts and logic,” explained Yulia Merkulovich Levi, HR Manager at Talon Cyber Security. “It's crucial to ensure everyone is familiar with the details so they can be utilized in the explanatory process before addressing the professional aspects.”

Yulia Merkulovich Levi, HR Manager at Talon Cyber Security

HR in War is a new series exploring how companies in Israel are adapting in unusual times. At CTech we believe the world should know about the atrocities committed on 7/10 while at the same time highlighting the continued resolve and resistance of the Israeli tech ecosystem.

Company name: Talon Cyber Security
Your name and title: Yulia Merkulovich Levi, HR Manager
Names of founders and upper management: Ofer Ben-Noon, CEO & Ohad Bobrov, CTO.
Field of activity: Cyber
Number of employees: 85 in Israel, 130 globally
Office location: Tel Aviv

On a scale of 1-10, how much did the war disrupt operations at the company?

Three. As for the business level, two. We are trying to maintain business as usual, particularly in terms of customer service. We have established an internal advocacy team for our employees abroad, to enable an understanding of how Israeli employees are dealing with the situation. This ensures that each customer receives the best response, just as they would on normal days.

As for the operational level, four. Approximately 20% of our Israeli employees have been recruited for the war effort, filling various key positions in the operations and finance departments. However, the remaining staff members are dedicated to fulfilling their roles and are even managing to generate new initiatives that will support employees during this sensitive period.

What consequences have you experienced from these disruptions?

Fortunately, there are no significant consequences at the customer level. We believe that our customers do not feel the crisis in Israel, and this is thanks to the efforts of Talon's global team. In the office in Israel, as in every company at the moment, it seems, there is not a single employee who does not know a person or family affected by the situation. We also have employees and families of employees who live in the southern region and face the brutal consequences of the war. Young parents among our workers find it difficult to maintain a routine, as the educational frameworks for their children have not fully returned. The management team is doing everything it can to encourage the employees to avoid the 'virtual control' experience by staying intensely updated with the news. We also encourage employees to return to their previous routine and create a new one that supports their functioning and productivity.

What are the two major challenges you are coping with these days?

First, morale and focus have been affected. Therefore, these days require a different kind of support from us. Each team begins every morning with a daily update call. This serves to connect with one another, understand each other's needs, and identify where special support is necessary. We want our employees to know that the organization understands that these are unusual times, and we're here to fully support them. We maintain consistent communication with all employees, including global company meetings that emphasize current priorities. Furthermore, the company's CEO maintains direct and continuous contact with the employees, providing updates on the company's support for both the soldiers and the civilian population.

Secondly, there's uncertainty and the need to plan ahead. We tend to be flexible and plan for short periods of time to adapt to upcoming challenges. Managers assist in prioritizing urgent tasks and encourage creativity. Additionally, to ensure that the global team feels comfortable reaching out to Israeli employees given the situation, they are briefed on how to collaborate with us in a supportive and inclusive manner during these times. For example, to improve internal organizational communication, we have implemented new status indicators for all our team members. This allows an employee to show their availability to colleagues, indicating when they are more or less available.

What support do you provide to employees?

Talon opened the office on the very first day of the war to provide a shelter inside for employees who prefer not to be alone. This allows them to come and receive support from their teammates. Additionally, we offer a babysitting service for any parent who wishes to come to the office.

During this period, the company emphasizes donations and encourages employees to volunteer in their free time. Any private donation made by an employee is doubled by Talon and given to the same organization. In addition to this, Talon has contributed to several organizations including 'Ahim LaNeshek', Regreen, United Hatzalah, Kfar Azza Community, Zaka, The Kibbutz Movement, and more.

Talon maintains constant communication with the families of the recruits and the recruits themselves, checking on their well-being on a daily basis. We aim to boost their morale by sending various treat deliveries.

Today, three weeks after the war began, we have learned that it is possible to establish a routine alongside the fighting. We make every effort to foster connection and maintain high morale through different initiatives, such as the cucumbers-harvest project.

In terms of mental support for our employees, we have established several options for intimate conversations with both a clinical psychologist and an organizational consultant. These professionals are experts in the field of personal resilience and aim to provide tools to cope with the crisis. Furthermore, we offer funding for professional emotional support for any interested employee through a company specializing in psychological solutions.

Do you have employees with foreign citizenship who asked to work from another country? If so, has movement been requested/approved?

During the war, a number of workers temporarily chose to travel abroad for work, regardless of their foreign citizenship. Talon has permitted them to work remotely these days.

How do you communicate the situation to customers? Do you see hostility or support?

We want to emphasize that our business operations continue completely as usual. Our team is extensive and global, allowing us to maintain our customer support, release new capabilities, and serve our customers just as we did before. The ability to recover quickly and continue to grow the Israeli economy even in moments of crisis is Zionism in our view.

We've received hundreds of supportive messages from our customers in Israel, the USA, Europe, and the East. These messages express sympathy for our pain and anticipation of a brighter future. There's no doubt that it warms our hearts.

In the event employees feel they encounter hostility, how do you guide them to respond to the situation?

We instruct employees that in the case of a hostile situation, although it has not yet occurred, they should communicate using facts and logic. It's crucial to ensure everyone is familiar with the details so they can be utilized in the explanatory process before addressing the professional aspects.

Startups only: How do you communicate the situation to investors, and how are they reacting?

Our investors show empathy for the situation in Israel, but they are also enthusiastic about discovering our social resilience and are impressed by our day-to-day operations. They have expressed their eagerness to continue their support.