Top HR practices: How businesses in Ukraine are adapting their workforce strategies to meet contemporary challenges.

During wartime, business serves not only as a tool for economic stability but also as a crucial support center for employees. In times of instability, businesses successfully adapt their human resource management approaches to ensure flexibility, psychological support, career development, and employee protection. In this special project by RBC-Ukraine, we explore the best HR practices that have proven effective at the pharmacy chain "Podorozhnik," "Nova Poshta," and "Imperial Tobacco" in Ukraine.

Nova Poshta: caring for the team at every stage and investing in its development

Nova Poshta is one of Ukraine's largest employers, with a workforce of 35,000 employees. The company is awarded the title of "Best Employer" annually, demonstrating this through actions rather than words. In response to the challenges of war, Nova Poshta has implemented a range of initiatives aimed at supporting its employees and ensuring team stability.

One of the key steps was the establishment of a SOS Headquarters — a special program providing comprehensive support to employees to stabilize their conditions and assist their families.

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Today, the Headquarters continues to operate, offering 8 types of support: employment assistance, medical and legal aid, support for mobilized employees, psychological help, household assistance (e.g., during evacuation), and financial aid (including loss of property, relocation). During its operation, every third employee of the company has sought help from the Headquarters. Additionally, all employees, regardless of their position and place of residence, are provided with mandatory health insurance and life insurance. We have even implemented insurance for employees on probation.

Nova Poshta also supports the families of deceased employees. "We provide financial assistance to families and support their children. Monthly, children of fallen employees receive 10,000 hryvnias until they reach adulthood. We also offer educational grants of 12,500 dollars. Currently, three children of deceased employees are studying at universities funded by the company," the representatives of Nova Poshta state.

Moreover, Nova Poshta collaborates with 100 psychologists, including military psychologists working with mobilized colleagues, child and family psychologists, and specialists assisting with psychological trauma.

This year, the number of requests for psychological support reached 1,000, double the figures from last year. Furthermore, the company has introduced other formats for psychological support — book clubs, communication and support chats, as well as thematic seminars for managers, such as on effective communication with employees during wartime. A mandatory training course titled "Trauma-Focused Communication: Supporting Grief" is in preparation for implementation.

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"We understand that people are our main potential and the key value of the business. In turn, employees who receive timely assistance in overcoming stress or traumatic experiences become more focused and motivated in their work tasks. Such programs contribute to creating a supportive corporate culture where everyone feels valued and understood," the company representatives explain.

For employees returning from military service, the company has implemented a reintegration and adaptation program. It began operating in July 2023 and includes extended health insurance, physical and psychological rehabilitation, career transition if necessary, and other measures. Out of 546 demobilized employees, 380 have already returned to work at Nova Poshta.

"Our goal is for every veteran who wishes to work at Nova Poshta to find their place here. Before returning to work, demobilized employees can take paid leave for rehabilitation or health checks. After that, each one adapts to the work process individually," the company notes.

The company places special emphasis on employee development and training. Nova Poshta offers initial training programs for newcomers, training on work standards, professional development programs, and a Corporate University. In this university, middle and senior managers gain knowledge, enhance their qualifications, and learn about LEAN management concepts.

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The company also has retraining programs. For instance, recently, in collaboration with Reskilling Ukraine, 25 women received their category C driver's licenses, enabling them to operate vehicles weighing over 7.5 tons.

Currently, the Ministry of Infrastructure has approached the company with a similar initiative. After training under the ministry's program, women will be offered jobs at Nova Poshta. Overall, in 2023, 16,500 employees of Nova Poshta underwent corporate training.

Pharmacy Chain "Podorozhnik": Caring for Employees and Growing Young Specialists

"Podorozhnik" is one of the largest pharmacy chains in Ukraine, with over 2,100 branches. At the onset of the full-scale invasion, the company maintained close contact with its employees to understand their circumstances and provide necessary assistance. Some employees had to relocate to safer regions, and the company supported them by providing job opportunities and essential aid.

About 50 employees of "Podorozhnik" joined the Defense Forces of Ukraine since February 2022. The company supports mobilized employees: requests for assistance, such as vehicles for service, ammunition, or medicines, are prioritized.

The company emphasizes that such support is a vital part of their commitment to employees. Considering that over 80% of "Podorozhnik" employees are women, many of whom have relatives defending Ukraine, the company receives numerous requests from their families and provides defenders with everything they need. The company notes that it continually improves internal processes to respond swiftly to new challenges.

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Another area of support since the start of the war has been the provision of psychological assistance for the team. Specifically, workshops for managers were organized in collaboration with psychologists from the "Moe Kolo" project. Over 115 managers from across the country participated in these workshops. The events discussed effective communication with subordinates, ways to support them, and assistance during difficult situations. In addition to lectures, the workshops included practical exercises to reinforce the knowledge gained.

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"Podorozhnik" pays great attention to the professional development of its employees. In 2024, the company launched Ukraine's first training pharmacy, which has become a center for the qualification enhancement of workers and training young specialists.

"We take pride in our project 'Training Pharmacy Podorozhnik' — the first initiative of its kind in Ukraine. It is open for the training and practice of young specialists, as well as for the qualification enhancement of employees who are already part of our team. The training pharmacy is designed with a customer focus — pharmacists here learn the best service standards and improve their knowledge," the company representatives state.

Thanks to this initiative, new employees have been able to adapt quickly, reducing the onboarding period to three months. Customer satisfaction levels have also increased, and the company's operational efficiency has reached high indicators.

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Similar programs have been developed for managers aspiring to occupy regional leadership positions. Specifically, for pharmacists transitioning to managerial roles, a "Pharmacy Manager School" has been created for the rapid acquisition of new management skills. The "Regional Director School" helps managers acquire the competencies necessary for leadership positions. There is also a program titled "Your Start," which offers newcomers the opportunity to undergo intensive offline training, including practical assignments and mentorship support.

The "Podorozhnik" educational platform is an innovative online platform that allows employees to learn at their convenience. It includes access to educational materials, video lessons, tests, and useful articles. Employees can track their progress, receive feedback from mentors, and exchange accumulated points for pleasant bonuses.

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To attract youth, the "Podorozhnik START" program allows students to gain their first practical experience and build a career within the company. As part of this program, the company collaborates with over 80 educational institutions across Ukraine.

Over more than three years of the program, nearly 4,000 students have completed internships. More than 600 of them have become part of the team.

"Podorozhnik employees have the opportunity to realize themselves in any area within the company. All that is needed is the desire and openness to new knowledge. We are delighted when we see our employees happy and able to find their calling in our network," the company concludes.

"Imperial Tobacco" in Ukraine: Caring for Employees and Adapting to New Realities

The full-scale war has established new requirements for responsible business, and over the past nearly three years, "Imperial Tobacco" in Ukraine has implemented numerous innovations.

"In this current year, 2024, we have completed the construction of shelters on the factory premises, as the safety of workers has always been the company's top priority. In this project, 'Imperial Tobacco' invested 50 million hryvnias, building eight modules that are certified according to state regulations and protect against missile and radiation threats," says Anna Zaripova, Senior Manager for People Support and Corporate Culture at "Imperial Tobacco" in Ukraine.

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Anna Zaripova, Senior Manager for People Support and Corporate Culture at "Imperial Tobacco" in Ukraine

Given the tense situation with