HR in War
“The startup world continues to work even in the shadow of war.”
Agado Live has encouraged its workers who aren’t working on the frontline to volunteer and has also offered support to those at home with children.
“In the first week, we could say it was on a scale of nine,” said Tzach Goren, Co-Founder and CEO of Agado Live. “It took all of us time to partially recover from the terrible disaster and to try to return to some routine. Starting from the second week, we began to gradually return to full work, initially from home and now almost completely in the office.”
HR in War explores how companies in Israel are adapting in unusual times. CTech believes the world should know about the atrocities committed on 7/10 while also highlighting the continued resolve and resistance of the Israeli tech ecosystem.
“The startup world continues to work even in the shadow of war. It's important to remember that the economy is the engine for getting out of the situation we find ourselves in,” he added.
Company name: Agado Live
Your name and title: Tzach Goren, Co-Founder & CEO
Names of founders and upper management: Tzach Goren, Co-Founder & CEO; Gil Shamai, Co-Founder & CRO; Gili Yaron Cohn, Co-Founder & CPO; Vittaly Tavor, Co-Founder & CTO.
Field of activity: Healthcare
Number of employees: 12
Office location: Tel Aviv
On a scale of 1-10, how much did the war disrupt operations at the company?
In the first week, we could say it was on a scale of nine. It took all of us time to partially recover from the terrible disaster and to try to return to some routine. Starting from the second week, we began to gradually return to full work, initially from home and now almost completely in the office.
The startup world continues to work even in the shadow of war. It's important to remember that the economy is the engine for getting out of the situation we find ourselves in.
Agado Live is maintaining momentum, having recently initiated a new venture in partnership with Adventist HealthCare, backed by the BIRD Foundation.
We had planned to travel to the USA for business meetings the day after the war began, yet the unfolding crisis led to the cancellation of our travel plans. Nonetheless, we've adapted by shifting these meetings to Zoom, ensuring our goals and objectives remain on track. While the mode of our operations has shifted, our projects and activities continue to progress.
What consequences have you experienced from these disruptions?
The disruptions have primarily led to a significant increase in our reliance on digital communication tools such as Zoom. The cancellation of our travel plans made it necessary to quickly adapt to a virtual environment for our meetings, which changed the way we manage and collaborate on projects.
At the same time, there's been a mental strain as we juggle the stress of the war with the need to keep our business operations running smoothly. This has put a spotlight on the importance of supporting the mental well-being of our team as we navigate these challenging times. Overall, these experiences have underscored the importance of flexibility and mental resilience in our operational strategy.
What are the two major challenges you are coping with these days?
At present, we're facing two significant hurdles: First is the need to adapt to the absence of employees summoned as reservists for military service, and second is providing assistance to staff members who are parents with children at home due to school closures or have spouses serving as reservists. These circumstances demand from us a management style that is both understanding and adaptable, so we can maintain our operations while also attending to the personal and family demands of our workforce during these challenging times.
What support do you provide to employees?
Since the war began, we transitioned to a work-from-home model and prioritized daily team calls, where we've focused not just on work-related tasks but also dedicated time to sharing feelings, discussing coping strategies, and offering support to foster a sense of solidarity.
We have steered away from imposing stringent work task deadlines or fixed work hours, instead allowing employees the flexibility to work at times that suit them best, giving them room to adjust to the current situation at their own pace. Additionally, we've extended support and reinforcement for employees on reservist duty, ensuring they are upheld and reassured of their value to our company during and after their service.
To further contribute to the war effort, we have encouraged our employees to engage in volunteer work, providing a sense of purpose and direct contribution to the support of our armed forces. This initiative not only aids the wider community but also helps our team members feel they are actively participating in a meaningful way during these challenging times.
Do you have employees with foreign citizenship who asked to work from another country? If so, has movement been requested/approved?
We have not received any requests of this nature; all of our employees are currently in the country and have expressed a desire to remain here in order to provide support through various volunteering efforts for the fighters and evacuees.
How do you communicate the situation to customers? Do you see hostility or support?
We maintain transparent communication with our customers regarding the current situation. We've been fortunate to receive a significant amount of support from them during these times. A notable instance of this support was during a Zoom call we had with our partners at Adventist Healthcare from the U.S.
During this call, two of our management members were in a car returning from volunteering in the south when a siren went off. They managed to capture the situation live, filming as people lay down on the road for safety. After the siren ended, we all returned to the Zoom call and continued our discussion as though nothing had happened. Our partners from the U.S. team were quite shocked by this experience but they also expressed a deep understanding of the situation. Their support was palpable, not just through their reactions to this incident but also in their ongoing cooperation and partnership with us.
Startups only: How do you communicate the situation to investors, and how are they reacting?
We keep our investors updated bi-weekly about the company's status, and to our satisfaction, we also share the achievements we continue to accomplish in advancing the company even during this challenging period. We are receiving full support and understanding from our investors, who assure us that they are there for us.
