The company vowed to provide 'meaningful' support for employees
Vehicle manufacturer Tesla will continue paying its Ukrainian employees who have been recalled to their country for conscription, according to a CNBC report. The report cited an email it obtained, which was sent on Monday to Tesla employees across Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region.
"For any Tesla employees who is a Ukrainian national and has been asked to return to Ukraine for active duty as a reservist, we will maintain their employment and salary for [three] months, with a view to assessing after this period as needed," said the company in the email, as published by CNBC.
The initiative is just one of the several programmes for Tesla employees amid the escalating tensions between Ukraine and Russia. According to the company, its HR EMEA team members have been "connecting with employees impacted as well as their managers to ensure we check in."
"We will continue to ensure we provide meaningful and targeted support for our employees," the email read.
This includes the reinforcement of Tesla EMEA Employee Assistance Programme, which offers "counselling and numerous resources and support for employees."
Read more: IKEA suspends operations in Russia and Belarus
The automaker said that many employees have reached out to find out how they can help amid the ongoing Ukraine-Russia crisis, and it suggested they can make cash donations to the following relief organisations helping Ukraine:
- United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
- United Nations Children's Fund
- Red Cross
- World Food Programme
- World Health Organisation
"This is not an exhaustive list, and you can of course make donation to an organisation of your choice," said Tesla in its email to staff.
Other initiatives from Tesla to help Ukraine include opening for free its Supercharging at stations bordering Ukraine to users of Tesla and non-Tesla electric vehicles.
"Although Tesla does not officially operate within Ukraine, any of the country’s estimated 5,000 Tesla owners can access free Supercharging at select stations in Poland, Hungary Slovakia," said Tesla.
Previously, McDonald's also extended help to its employees in Ukraine by saying they will continue receiving full salaries.
The fast-food chain also donated $5 million its Employee Assistance Fund and supported relief operations led by the International Red Cross.