Blur

Cisco took action during the pandemic to better support its people and respond to crises. As lines blurred between the responsibilities of work and home life for many employees, the organization introduced several changes to assure the well-being of its workforce, such as increasing the amount of emergency/critical time off for caregivers (who reported higher rates of burnout than non-caregivers, according to internal Cisco research). It also double the amount of time employees can devote to volunteering, added a mental health practitioner to every all-company call, and introduced quarterly companywide “Days for Me,” where the entire staff takes the day off to recharge.

“We’ve learned that caring for our people and their families is fundamental to our success,” says Katsoudas. “We must let our purpose to power an inclusive future for all guide us as we take a stand for what’s right through steadfast and decisive leadership. Our employees, customers, partners, and the public increasingly turn to us to speak up, speak out, and take action to positively impact the lives of people everywhere.”