AmCham Ukraine started 2022, the year of its 30th anniversary, with lots of hope and ambitions of having an unprecedented year of celebrating our successes, achievements, and excellence in serving our member companies for thirty years. And it truly turned out to be an unprecedented year – the year of our team's courage, resilience, and invincibility.
From the first day of the cruelest modern war, the safety of our team was at the top of our minds. So the Contingency Group, functioning since Covid-19 times, enabled the Business Continuity Plan to focus on the physical safety and security of the team, financial security, and uninterrupted communications within the team.
Physical safety and security
At the brink of the war, we asked our employees to complete a questionnaire and think of their personal contingency plans, including possible relocation options. We conducted a first-aid training course and arranged a meet-up with security advisors.
As remote working arrangements were introduced in the early Covid-19 days, we encouraged the team to continue work distantly from where they think is the safest, from other regions of Ukraine to any country abroad. Communication with HR Department on location changes was on daily bases. Virtually we now have a global team from Ukraine to Europe, the USA, and Australia.
Financial security
Keeping and supporting the team, we had no job cuts or salary reductions. We provided all benefits like medical and life insurance in full scope.
Throughout the year, a couple of times, the team members received substantial financial aid from the Chamber and other AmCham fellow organizations from Europe and the US to be spent individually either for relocation purposes, setting up a mobile/home office, or any emergency needs.
We financially supported our colleague who joined the military, providing monthly corporate support and keeping the workplace over the whole service period.
Due to the individual donating, we have been trying to cover the needs of our colleague at the front line, purchasing a road-off vehicle as one of the examples.
Communications
All available means of communication, mobile, landline, and digital, were used 24/7 to get in touch with our people. We remained operational from the first day of the war. Cloud solutions ensured all data security and back-ups. Our IT infrastructure enabled us to work effectively across geographies from anywhere in the world.
To keep people connected, we extended our regular informal Coffee with the President online chats to daily status check-ups and catch-up calls. This ritual gave structure to the first chaotic days. Then it evolved into a virtual meeting room where one can meet colleagues, hear the leadership, exchange the latest information, align activities, and, most importantly, feel emotional support and a sense of belonging and togetherness.
FB chat "AmCham Dream Team" was also transformed into a quick real-time check-ups and information exchange channel.
