HR in War“There is not a single Israeli who was not touched by this disaster.”
HR in War
“There is not a single Israeli who was not touched by this disaster.”
RAD may not feel an impact on its daily operations, but its employees are battling with low morale following the attack by Hamas
“It is important for me to emphasize that continued production is part of the national war effort,” said Eitan Hamri – VP of Operations at RAD. “They will not disrupt our lives. Going on as usual is our way of showing resilience and contributing to the general effort.”
RAD is an Israeli company that designs and manufactures specialized networking equipment. While it has reported minimal disruption in its operations, the company has undoubtedly felt the impact of the war with Gaza on a personal level. “There is not a single worker, not a single Israeli, who was not touched by this disaster. The hearts of our employees are also torn by the things we see,” he added.
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: RAD
Your name and title: Eitan Hamri – VP Operations
Names of founders and upper management: RAD was founded by brothers Zohar and Yehuda Zisapel. Its management team includes Yehuda Zisapel, Udy Kashkash, Avi Levin, Moshe Shimon, Tuvia Segal, Eitan Hamri, Yael Langer, and Daniella Ilan.
Field of activity: Networking solutions
Number of employees: 540 employees in Israel. About 640 worldwide.
Office location: Ramat Hachayal, Tel Aviv, Mount Hotzvim, Jerusalem, and Be’er Sheva. In addition, RAD has various local offices around the world.
On a scale of 1-10, how much did the war disrupt operations at the company?
One. We remain 100% operational, working as usual and delivering products, and haven’t seen a problem with deliveries or the arrival of components. Due to the component shortage during the coronavirus outbreaks, we took steps to secure our inventory. This allowed us to enter the current situation fully prepared.
What consequences have you experienced from these disruptions?
Despite the war, electronic production in Israel has continued almost as normal. The feeling emerging from the Hi-Tech Chief Operating Officers Forum is that the industry continues to operate at full strength. This is an informal group where we share our problems and needs, and when someone encounters difficulties, they turn to the group for help. Right now there is complete silence in the group, which means that in terms of production, I see no signs of distress. This is a good reflection of what we’ve been seeing internally.
What are the two major challenges you are coping with these days?
I have been with RAD for almost 35 years, and I’ve been involved in operations and production for even longer. We went through challenging times in the past due to circumstances beyond our control.
This time there is another aspect - the need to strengthen and raise the morale of the employees. There is not a single worker, not a single Israeli, who was not touched by this disaster. The hearts of our employees are also torn by the things we see. This is something we pay attention to, and it’s been by far our highest priority in terms of challenges.
What support do you provide to employees?
The team leaders receive updates on everyone whose family members were injured or drafted for reserve duty and are in daily contact with everyone. The company sends care packages to all our drafted employees and donates to displaced families who were affected by the war, as well as encourages employees to donate and volunteer. We brought in a therapist to give a lecture about coping in times of uncertainty and conduct joint conversations with employees. Our management team grew from within the system, and we see the employees as our main asset. People felt the need to come in and lend a hand. On the Sunday after October 7th, 50% of the employees arrived at the premises even though they could have worked from home.
How do you communicate the situation to customers? Do you see hostility or support?
We are in constant contact with our customers and assure them that we’re here, standing tall and working as usual to meet our commitments. Many of them have sent their wishes and shows of support. It has been heartwarming.
