HR in WarAmid grief, Priority Software guides its workforce toward volunteering
HR in War
Amid grief, Priority Software guides its workforce toward volunteering
The company is learning how to balance work and family as employees and their spouses get called up to fight against Hamas
“The main disruption is on employees who were affected by the attack on Israel. We decided to do everything we can for employees' well-being and morale, while we understand that many employees will face different challenges, including stress, the need to take of children who are currently not going to school, spouses in reserve duty, and even employees that lost their loved ones,” explained Hilit Paz, VP of Human Resources Management at Priority Software. “We guided the team managers to conduct daily online meetings with their team members and to check how the company can support anyone in need.”
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.
“Priority encouraged its employees to volunteer to contribute to the community, which they did and are still engaged with. This includes fund-raising for multiple purposes, including supporting the communities that had to evacuate from the war zone, as well as for army units that needed support,” she added.
Company name: Priority Software
Your name and title: Hilit Paz, VP of Human Resources Management
Names of founders and upper management: Priority is jointly owned by the Fortissimo Capital and TA Associates
Field of activity: ERP, Software Technology, Business Management Applications
Number of employees: 550
Office location: Rosh-Ha'ayin
On a scale of 1-10, how much did the war disrupt operations at the company?
Since the war started, we directed our employees to work from home, and more than 40 employees enlisted in reserve service. We are making all possible adjustments to provide the level of service to our customers around the world and execute our plans, however. At this point in time, some activities have been slowed down and rescheduled.
What consequences have you experienced from these disruptions?
The main disruption is on employees who were affected by the attack on Israel. We decided to do everything we can for employees' well-being and morale, while we understand that many employees will face different challenges, including stress, the need to take of children who are currently not going to school, spouses in reserve duty, and even employees that lost their loved ones. We guided the team managers to conduct daily online meetings with their team members, and to check how the company can support anyone in need.
What are the two major challenges you are coping with these days?
- Maintaining our employee's well-being and keeping them motivated during these hard times.
- Overcoming the absence of many employees who are on army reserve duty.
What support do you provide to employees?
Priority encouraged its employees to volunteer to contribute to the community, which they did and are still engaged with. This includes fund-raising for multiple purposes, including supporting the communities that had to evacuate from the war zone, as well as for army units that needed support. In addition, we provide psychological support and arrange resilience workshops for dealing with the situation.
Do you have employees with foreign citizenship who asked to work from another country? If so, has movement been requested/approved?
Yes, we have, and we approved their working remotely.
How do you communicate the situation to customers? Do you see hostility or support?
We sent our customers a newsletter regarding the current situation, offering our support and ensuring our business continuity. We received very supportive feedback from customers in Israel and abroad.
In the event employees feel they encounter hostility, how do you guide them to respond to the situation?
We sent a communication email to our overseas and Israeli managers and gave them and their teams suggestions on how to address these situations.
