In an era where layoffs are often swift and impersonal, and employment opportunities scarce, a few business leaders are choosing to lead with empathy and responsibility even in the face of financial adversity.

Harsh Pokharna, CEO of OkCredit, recently exemplified this approach. In a heartfelt post on his official LinkedIn account, Pokharna shared that while the company had to let go of 70 employees, they didn’t leave them in the lurch. Instead, OkCredit actively helped the affected team members secure jobs elsewhere.

The move has earned praise for its humane handling of a difficult situation and for putting people before profits.

But Pokharna is not alone in setting this example. Several entrepreneurs have shown that leadership is not just about managing success but also about standing by your people during tough times.

Take the story of Moumita Goswami, an entrepreneur from Kharghar. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic brought her flourishing branding and advertising business to a sudden halt. “It was a tough period,” she recalls. “We had to inform our 25 employees that we wouldn't be able to continue operations for long. We paid them basic salaries for three months and were deeply moved by the support we received.”

By 2021, it became clear that they would have to shut down entirely. However, Goswami and her husband made it their mission to help their employees land on their feet. “Some secured new jobs based on their experience, others through our referrals, and a few even launched their own ventures,” she says. It was a painful exit, but one handled with grace and a deep sense of responsibility.

Deepak Shenoy, an entrepreneur from Vashi, faced a similarly difficult moment in 2014 when his garment business collapsed under mounting debt. Declaring bankruptcy was hard, but what weighed heavier was the fate of his 550 employees.

“When you start a business, you also take on the responsibility of those you employ,” Shenoy shares.

Rather than abandoning them, he took proactive steps to secure their futures. “We reached out to competitors and clients to help place our staff. I also paid one month’s salary in advance to ensure no one was left stranded.”

Shenoy believes that loyalty works both ways. “Today, I’ve started a new venture, and some of my old employees are back with me. We're growing together.”

These stories are not just about survival, they're about values. In a world where pink slips are often handed out with little notice or support, leaders like Pokharna, Goswami, and Shenoy remind us that businesses can fail, but compassion doesn’t have to. Their actions prove that empathy, loyalty, and responsibility still have a place in the modern workplace.