Labor market in Ukraine during the war

08/ 04/ 2022

After the russian attack on Ukraine, many companies and enterprises were forced to close down and millions of people lost their jobs. Therefore, on April 7, 2022, during EBA Odesa HR HUB’ online meeting, the speaker of the event Maryna Stiahailo, Chairman of the EBA Odesa HR HUB, CEO Akkerman Solutions Ukraine told the participants about the main transformations of the labor market in Ukraine. In particular, we talked about how employers and search engines work now, how to set up the recruitment process and keep existing teams. “Thus, companies learned to work in difficult conditions during Covid19. Therefore, the main steps that every company must implement are to keep the team, pay salaries, donate money to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, volunteer and support the initiative of employees in this direction,- said Ms. Stiahailo during the meeting. We leave some recommendations for the actions of HR in the new difficult environment below. 1) Put people first and take care of internal communication channels’ quality The safety and health of the people must come first. Make sure that your employees receive verified information on: emergency lines of contact with the emergency services, contacts of volunteer centres, useful maps on food/water/medicine in their regions, etc. Humanity in our time is the basis of your communication in the body. This will significantly increase efficiency. 2) Keep transparent leadership Real leadership must work in a crisis situation. When managers openly and proactively share information with employees, offer a clear plan of action and set priorities for the structural unit and the enterprise as a whole. 3) Maintain values The whole country united for a common goal - victory. We do our job, overcome difficulties, go beyond the possible. And we do all this based on values that give us faith in the future: responsibility, integrity, professionalism, teamwork/cooperation and efficiency/effectiveness. Write to your colleagues about what unites us, what moves us forward, and why our values are the key to success. 4) Express empathy Remember that all employees are in different life circumstances. They face great uncertainty and experience a whole range of emotions from fear, sadness, anxiety and frustration to patriotism, inspiration and joy for victory. Do not ignore these emotions and build communication, taking into account the need for their support and understanding. 5) Remain optimistic In the self-preservation mode it is much easier for people to feel negative emotions. So, an optimistic tone of your internal communication will promote positive thinking, motivate and inspire employees. Do not shy away from humor, because it helps to ignite smiles and go through the darkest times. 6) Remember the prospects for the development of the labor market Communication with universities is something to think about after the war. To have access to those professionals who will be released and they can potentially become our candidates. You can already prepare such programs for students. This process from development to approval takes up to six months. In turn, on the basis of companies need to think about training and development of employees. Such training is relevant for lawyers, financiers, IT specialists, etc. Lets keep doing the current job well even in difficult conditions. And this experience will help your company become stronger, more resilient and more cohesive. Do what you are strong at. And everything will be Ukraine!

After the russian attack on Ukraine, many companies and enterprises were forced to close down and millions of people lost their jobs.

Therefore, on April 7, 2022, during EBA Odesa HR HUB’ online meeting, the speaker of the event Maryna Stiahailo, Chairman of the EBA Odesa HR HUB, CEO “Akkerman Solutions Ukraine” told the participants about the main transformations of the labor market in Ukraine. In particular, we talked about how employers and search engines work now, how to set up the recruitment process and keep existing teams.

“Thus, companies learned to work in difficult conditions during Covid19. Therefore, the main steps that every company must implement are to keep the team, pay salaries, donate money to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, volunteer and support the initiative of employees in this direction,”- said Ms. Stiahailo during the meeting.

We leave some recommendations for the actions of HR in the new difficult environment below.

1) Put people first and take care of internal communication channels’ quality

The safety and health of the people must come first. Make sure that your employees receive verified information on: emergency lines of contact with the emergency services, contacts of volunteer centres, useful maps on food/water/medicine in their regions, etc. Humanity in our time is the basis of your communication in the body. This will significantly increase efficiency.

2) Keep transparent leadership

Real leadership must work in a crisis situation. When managers openly and proactively share information with employees, offer a clear plan of action and set priorities for the structural unit and the enterprise as a whole.

3) Maintain values

The whole country united for a common goal – victory. We do our job, overcome difficulties, go beyond the possible. And we do all this based on values that give us faith in the future: responsibility, integrity, professionalism, teamwork/cooperation and efficiency/effectiveness. Write to your colleagues about what unites us, what moves us forward, and why our values are the key to success.

4) Express empathy

Remember that all employees are in different life circumstances. They face great uncertainty and experience a whole range of emotions from fear, sadness, anxiety and frustration to patriotism, inspiration and joy for victory. Do not ignore these emotions and build communication, taking into account the need for their support and understanding.

5) Remain optimistic

In the “self-preservation mode” it is much easier for people to feel negative emotions. So, an optimistic tone of your internal communication will promote positive thinking, motivate and inspire employees. Do not shy away from humor, because it helps to ignite smiles and go through the darkest times.

6) Remember the prospects for the development of the labor market

Communication with universities is something to think about after the war. To have access to those professionals who will be released and they can potentially become our candidates. You can already prepare such programs for students. This process from development to approval takes up to six months. In turn, on the basis of companies need to think about training and development of employees. Such training is relevant for lawyers, financiers, IT specialists, etc.

Let’s keep doing the current job well even in difficult conditions. And this experience will help your company become stronger, more resilient and more cohesive. Do what you are strong at. And everything will be Ukraine!