“Working Conditions Under Wartime”

Nobody was prepared, but war has fundamentally changed Ukrainians’ lives. Someone had to leave their home, someone stayed to defend the borders, someone stayed to bring benefits to the good of the country.

First two weeks under the shock regarding the Russian full scale invasion in Ukraine all thoughts were concentrated on help and support each other. But the main features of Ukrainians are braveness and high desire of freedom. On the way to victory - rear should remain steadfast. ABEA team has met new reality with dignity. The main priority was to save work places for the employees. Moreover, emotionally, returning to work process was ABEA’s lifebuoy. Providing qualitative service, helping our partners and clients are things that make us happy.

Today is almost a year since the war came to our country. What changes in our work have we faced?

–Our team has always worked from office and now switched to remote work primarily for safety reasons. Also we would like to tell more details within the departments. Relocation department–we all understand that foreigners took a short pause with moving to Ukraine, so at the moment the main tasks are to close the current lease agreements, moving and belongings storage. The legal department takes care of the extension of work and residence permits and other documents that allow foreigners to stay here. Desire of expats to stay and return to work in Ukraine despite everything is really heartwarming. What about another challenge – power cuts? Due to Russian bombing of critical infrastructure

Ukrainian business need to follow scheduled power blackouts and emergency power cuts. But Ukrainians are brave people, so we adapt ourselves. Everybody has added new routines to the daily timetable: make it a rule to put phones, laptops and power bank on charge, control charge level. If the light cuts last too long, a person can always go to a coworking space, coffee shop, or cafe with a generator. You will be warmly welcomed and treated with tea or coffee there.

How about offline work meetings? – To work from office or meet with clients, our team needs to plan the route in advance and have an extra time. At any moment there can be announced an air alarm. It means that most of the public transport stop, state authorities close and citizens have to go to the nearest shelter. In such situations, the meeting should be postponed. However, if necessary ABEA team continues working from the subway, which is one of the safest places today. Nothing is impossible for us.

Taking all the points into account – is the work from office unbearable? – ABEA team is flexible, of course, taking into account safety measures. There are always tasks that can only be fulfilled from the office. And now our favorite days are when ABEA team get together at office and discuss absolutely everything, as we used to during peaceful times.

Does relocation & immigration business develop in wartime? – We are always looking for new opportunities and opening new services and departments. Development is a part of our business strategy despite the war conditions. Today our priorities have changed, we have learned to appreciate the things we didn't pay attention to before and after experiencing stress, chaos, massive mobility and uncertainty, we have definitely become different and stronger. We all know that Ukraine will also be different after the victory. The only wish – we could win sooner!

ABEA Relocation

Email: marina@abea.com.ua

Web: www.abea.com.ua