The Impact of Ukraine on Employees

By Marshall Krupp, Certified EOS Implementer

In collaboration with Ashley Berecz, Client Relations Manager

There have been a lot of changes and pivots in these past two years.  We have learned how to effectively run our businesses with employees who work-at-home and how technology can accommodate those situations.  And, we have felt the pressure of our employees in how employers accommodate employee needs.  At the same time, we have seen a significant impact on the labor pool driven by the desire of employees to find employment that better suits their needs and wants. 

We are again indirectly being tested as employers.  The Russian invasion into Ukraine is now 17 days old.  It does not look like there is going to be an immediate cease fire and we will see more unfortunate days to come.  In the meantime, the Administration announced yesterday that it is banning Russian oil imports into the U.S.  About 8% of U.S. imports of oil and refined products, or about 672,000 barrels a day, came from Russia last year, said Andy Lipow, president of Lipow Oil Associates LLC in Houston, citing figures from the Energy Information Administration. Even though the amount appears to be small, when added to the Administrations other actions around the production of oil nationally (i.e. construction of pipelines, drilling permits, environmental restrictions, focus on renewable energy sources), we are seeing gas prices increase daily, significantly, and historically.  The result is the cost of filling up our cars with gas, the cost of products being transported by truck, the cost of production nationally of products, and the cost of heating is and will continue to rise, creating financial hardships on many of our employees. 

According to AAA, California regular gasoline is running between $5.60 and $6.00.  We are seeing mid-grade and premium grade as high as $7.00 or more.  Someone asked me the other day, “When we get to $10.00 per gallon, where are they going to put the 1 on the pumps?  They are not designed for $10.00+ per gallon gasoline.”  Nationally, about 70% of vehicles use regular gasoline, 16% use premium gasoline, and 14% use mid-grade gasoline or use alternative energy sources.  It is said that the mid-grade statistics is higher in California due to the number of alternative energy vehicles.  Regardless, the cost of fuel is rising, and it is reaching a point that it is going to exceed the cost by 2-times plus over what it was 20 days ago.

On top of this,  inflation is rising and the real daily cost of living for a family is going up as prices increase.   

Before our employees come to us and ask for financial considerations to overcome their personal situation, and before they resign to find employment closer to their homes so that they can reduce their monthly expenditures, we employers may want to take the first steps and again offer work-from-home or hybrid opportunities.  The offer of flexibility may be the difference between an employee being able to afford a full tank of gas a week at $6.00 per gallon to an employee who is unable to feed his family. 

I invite you to reconsider your invitations or requirements to come back to the office.  Be aware of the direct and indirect cost that the Russian invasion combined with the Administration’s policies may be having on a day-to-day basis with our employees.  We are always asking ourselves “What is it that we as employers can do to create a culture that is attractive and inviting to our employees so that we can retain them”?  This is an opportunity to be empathetic to the impact that the current situation is having on our employees and to be proactive in a caring way. 

Lastly, start watching your daily costs at your office as prices increase due to the fuel increases and other governmental actions that are being taken to address the current worldwide situation.  Complacency is not a strategy! 

If you have any questions or  would like to continue this discussion further, please contact us at ashley.berecz@peerexecutiveboards.com or go to our website at www.peerexecutiveboards.com and contact us virtually. We will be happy to get back to you!

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EOS®, the Entrepreneurial Operating System® takes entrepreneur businesses on a journey of mastery of the EOS tools which enables businesses to elevate their leadership teams to make better decisions, maintain a level of accountability, at attain greater success more simplistically.  The components of EOS® are Vision, People, Data, Issues, Process, and Traction, which when used effectively attains a healthier organization with greater success.  Marshall Krupp is a recognized Certified EOS® Implementer serving clients through the nation.  He is also a national speaker, a past award-winning Vistage Worldwide Chair, and a past career of providing crisis management strategic advisors service to businesses, governmental agencies and not-for-profit organizations.   Review more at www.peerexecutiveboards.com and at www.eosworldwide.com/marshall-krupp.  Review the YouTube video here.