HR in War
Here's how Entitle is keeping its head up in wartime
The company joined CTech to share how the war has affected morale and performance within the company.
“The most challenging part is keeping our heads up while our relatives and friends are in battle, and families are dealing with tragedies that our hearts can't really hold,” said Bar Kashi Topaz, Head of Operations at Entitle. “Today, we've come to understand that this is just part of our day-to-day reality, and our mission is to ensure the market not only survives this crisis but also plays a role in its growth despite these challenging times.”
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.
“Our support involves handling the responsibilities of employees on reserve duty or sensitive situations, providing the necessary equipment for the virtual environment, assisting employees who are struggling with the situation—both emotionally and financially—and primarily being a source of support for them and their families,” she added.
Company name: Entitle
Your name and title: Bar Kashi Topaz, Head of Operations
Names of founders and upper management: Ron Nissim, CEO, and Avi Zetser, CTO
Field of activity: Cyber
Number of employees: 30
Office location: Tel Aviv and New York
On a scale of 1-10, how much did the war disrupt operations at the company?
Four. In the first week, we were all hit with a wave of shock and uncertainty, just breathing the news and looking for more information, like everyone. Some of our team got called up for reserve duty, others volunteered in civilian activities like helping families find new homes and collecting donations and equipment for our soldiers and some engaged in civilian ways to help safeguard the country. At some point, we realized that this was going to take a while, and we decided to shift our focus on key priorities during this emergency period: supporting our team and their families through this sensitive situation while ensuring we maintain our commitment to providing our customers with our services as usual.
What consequences have you experienced from these disruptions?
We unexpectedly shifted to a work-from-home setup, which was challenging in supporting the team to cope with feelings of isolation and anxiety. But, as the war became our new reality, more of us found comfort in coming back to the office and facing this war’s challenges together, so we adopted some new routines. We found that starting the morning together helped us get through the day better. Also, some of our R&D team members were called to reserve duty so we adjusted the product roadmap while the rest of the team backed them up. Thanks to our U.S. team as well, who jumped right in to help out our Israeli teammates. Teamwork, whether virtual or in person, really makes a difference.
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What are the two major challenges you are coping with these days?
The most challenging part is keeping our heads up while our relatives and friends are in battle, and families are dealing with tragedies that our hearts can't really hold. Today, we've come to understand that this is just part of our day-to-day reality, and our mission is to ensure the market not only survives this crisis but also plays a role in its growth despite these challenging times.
What support do you provide to employees?
We’ve mapped out our employees’ specific needs during these days. Our support involves handling the responsibilities of employees on reserve duty or sensitive situations, providing the necessary equipment for the virtual environment, assisting employees who are struggling with the situation—both emotionally and financially—and primarily being a source of support for them and their families.
Do you have employees with foreign citizenship who asked to work from another country? If so, has movement been requested/approved?
We have employees with foreign citizenship, but they didn't ask to work from another country. They actually volunteered and assisted the IDF and civilians.
How do you communicate the situation to customers? Do you see hostility or support?
The broad media coverage of the situation makes it easy for our customers to understand the challenges we're facing. We've noticed an increasing number of customers, vendors, and partners expressing interest in how we can navigate through these challenges while maintaining our operations. This interaction has not only brought more customer support but has also shown empathy towards our situation. We explain that, thank God, we’re safe and appreciate their care and kind words. We’re providing them the best services we can, also in challenging times.
In the event employees feel they encounter hostility, how do you guide them to respond to the situation?
Thankfully, we haven't encountered hostility, but if that happens, they can reach out the HR and their managers for help.
Startups only: How do you communicate the situation to investors, and how are they reacting?
We maintain a transparent line of communication through regular updates, virtual meetings, and detailed reports. We make sure to highlight not only the challenges we're facing but also our strategic responses and plans for the future. We've experienced a mix of understanding and support. Many investors appreciate our forthrightness and resilience in the face of challenges. Some have offered valuable insights and suggestions, showcasing a collaborative spirit during these uncertain times. Overall, our communication approach has fostered a sense of unity and shared commitment to navigating these challenges together.=
