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Meet the Crew

They welcome you with a smile when you arrive at the airport, make sure you are comfortable, and fly you safely to your destination – time to get up close and personal with the EL AL Israel Airlines ground and flight personnel. Meet Human Resources & Administration Manager Yael Cohen “Our priority is making sure the company’s employee experience is in constant improvement”

Name: Yael Cohen | Age: 56 | Marital Status : Married + 3 | Position: Human Resources & Administration Manager | Years at EL AL: 35

Profile

to our staff in time of ill health or when there’s a request for financial aid, etc. My team and I work together with each department’s HR representative with the shared understanding that our priority is making sure the company’s employee experience is in constant improvement and ensuring services are digitally available”. What do you most love about your job? “Being of service to others and ensuring EL AL employees are happy to be working here”. Which part of your job do you find most challenging? “There’s a huge diversity of backgrounds amongst EL AL employees so the challenge is to adapt yourself to each person and their specific needs”. Which EL AL destination do you most enjoy flying to and why? “Bangkok. It’s the entry point to all the other wonderful Southeast Asian destinations that offer culture, nature, great food, and relaxation. This part of the world is the ideal place to completely disconnect and feel totally free and peaceful”. What do you always pack with you? “A good book”. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? “I started running at 50

Tips & Recommendations “My first recommendation is the island of Ko Rong which is one of the most beautiful islands I’ve ever been to. I also recommend trekking in the Sa Pa region in the north of Vietnam. I went on a 3-day trek across the rice fields and bunked with locals. My last recommendation is the Taj Lake Palace hotel, in the center of Lake Pichola in Udaipor, India. Guests are treated like royalty; each one receives a personalized wellness program with wellness treatments, yoga lessons, etc., and the hotel restaurant offers the option to dine on a boat on the lake itself”.

Photos: Courtesy of EL AL

What led you to join EL AL? “My late father used to work for the company. After military service I was looking for a summer job before starting university, but like many people who start working here, I fell in love with the company and the rest is history”. What does your position entail? “HR is the company’s beating heart, and I’m a sort of gatekeeper: I oversee every aspect of the hiring process in every department, from air hostesses to pilots, to maintenance employees, etc. EL AL hires around 1,000 people each year. My job also involves taking care of employees reaching retirement or the end of their contract. We also provide help

The rice fields in the Sa Pa region

and became a doting grandmother last year which takes up a lot of my time”. What would you be doing now had you not joined EL AL? “I’d definitely be working with people, either as a doctor or a social worker”.

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ATMOSPHERE OCTOBER 2023