“The first two weeks were tough. The entire country was in a state of shock.”

“The first two weeks were tough. The entire country was in a state of shock, and everyone's mental and personal morale was down in the dumps,” explained Gal Ringel, co-founder and CEO of Mine. “In our case, we also had several management personnel who were stranded in the U.S., unable to return to Israel. We accepted the fact that this situation would last several weeks or months, and we began to prepare accordingly.”

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.

Gal Ringel

“Our entire management was recruited into the military reserve forces… therefore there was an urgent need to adjust work processes and ensure the company could continue to function fully and effectively,” he added.

Company name: Mine
Your name and title: Gal Ringel, co-founder and CEO
Names of founders and upper management: Gal Ringel, CEO Gal Golan, CTO Kobi Nissan, CPO
Field of activity: Data Privacy
Number of employees: 35
Office location: Tel Aviv

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

Five. The first two weeks were tough. The entire country was in a state of shock, and everyone's mental and personal morale was down in the dumps. In our case, we also had several management personnel who were stranded in the U.S., unable to return to Israel. We accepted the fact that this situation would last several weeks or months, and we began to prepare accordingly. Afterward, things started to get back to “normal”, and we embraced some kind of “war routine,” which allowed us to provide our services as usual and still be attentive to all employees’ needs.

What consequences have you experienced from these disruptions?

Our entire management was recruited into the military reserve forces, from the Sales VP, through our Customer VP, the Development VP, and HR. Therefore, there was an urgent need to adjust work processes and ensure the company could continue to function fully and effectively.

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

1. Everyone's state of mind. We are making an effort to contain the situation, talking daily with the employees and the families of those who have been drafted. We attempt to make sure everyone is fine at all times and cater to any personal needs.
2. Alongside the employees’ personal situation, we try to comprehend what is the company's capacity in terms of activity and update all plans and forecasts to verify they fit the new reality. All the while ensuring our customers continue receiving the same level of service and more.

What support do you provide to employees?

Financial support, mental support, low-capacity work schedule, enabling those who prefer to fly and work abroad, support for families whose children are at home without suitable educational settings/routines, and more.

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

Yes, and we fully support it. Each and every person should be able to work from wherever they feel the safest.

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

Pretty quickly, we emailed all our customers that everything continues as usual and that they shouldn’t worry. Fortunately, we have employees in the U.S. and Europe who, in difficult times like these, back us up and cover a lot of activities that are usually carried out from Israel. Right now, we receive considerable support from customers and investors alike.

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

We haven't had to deal with it yet. As soon as it happens, we'll know how to help and deal with it.

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

Since the war started, we have communicated with our investors at least twice a week. Everyone is very understanding of the situation and supports us - which is amazing to see.