For Delta and Accenture CEOs, helping employees navigate the trade and tariffs uncertainty fits the company culture

President Donald Trump's tariffs and trade wars – and the uncertainty that led to the weaker US confidence and business confidence – seemed to put companies like Delta wind lines in a Tailspin.

The plane has spoiled investors when it Cut out expectations for first-quarter income Back in March and then, a month later, fully withdrawn the entire-year guide for 2025. Delta is still expecting this year's income reporting, but CEO Ed Bastian Warned the uncertainty around the global trade It made it “very difficult to guess what policies could look like over the years.”

And yet, Bastian was stuck with a promise made by the Delta before the trade wars to give employees a 4% salary increase, the fourth consecutive increase since 2022.

“You do not see many companies leaning in the face of uncertainty,” said Bastian, sharing his thoughts during a live webinar communication that has been pledged by Fate. Bastian said the percentage increase is less important to employees than “the fact that we put fuel in their tank to get to these difficult times, as we have done many times in the past.”

Investment in studying

That logic helps explain why Delta ranked on the 15th of Fortune 100 best company this year to work for the list, which was combined with the editorial partner's great place to work. The latter is a cosponsored webinar – with the possibility of “redefining the leadership: mastering change in a complex world” – with HR and worker managers UKG.

Accenture chair and CEO Julie Sweet also spoke to the webinar and shared that during the first week of presenting tariff titles, IT Services and Management Consulting Firm posted 900 client webinars to discuss what was happening and how to respond. Interior, the accenture is invested in the study, providing 10,000 in charge of company directors with an AI-enabled database. This tool allows employees to ask questions about complex topics, such as tariffs, and quickly so they can help clients. Accenture also brought to a leading economist to teach workers in tariffs.

What employees say, Sweet explains, “I'm in a company above it, which immediately helps me to be successful in this environment.” Accenture is on the 7th -7th of Fortune 100 best companies to work for the list.

Within just one week of launching tariff education initiatives, Accenture has been working to assess how it reacted and whether the programs launched were received properly.

“I think it's very important to remember that people need communication,” Sweet said. “They need action. And as a company, who can invest in being fast -paced with your employees as they go through this different time.”

Talking to employees is also a major priority for Bastian in Delta. Earlier this week, he met frontline workers in Salt Lake City, one of the 15 employees' contact and CEO racing host sessions, known inside as “Velvet.” Delta has been posting these events for 19 consecutive years, which has previously returned when she cared for losses.

Listening to employees

“We are allowed to return to our people's frontlines, to listen to them,” Bastian said. “Many people want to tell us what we should do. The most important person to listen to yourself.”

Michael C. Bush, CEO of Great Place To Work, said he attended the events of the Delta worker's frontline and witnessed the enthusiastic response to Bastian's existence. “You can be a real person, you can be a caring person, you can be a building, a weak person, and do good business,” Bush said.

During Delta's event in Utah, a topic that came with the conversations between the leaders of the elders and the front workers were the trade war and the impact of travel tariffs. Consumer confidence dropped to lowest levels Since May 2020, putting the expected pressure on spending decisions, such as travel. The international trip to the US is expected to go down to 2025, a return -to -view from the hopes of an increase before tariff news.

But other data points indicate that, so far, foreign travelers are Still going to the US Bastian struck a tone of optimism. His customer base, which tends to be richer, is still spending. “I think the economic experience, which is what we serve, is doing well,” he said. “You still see people in the restaurants. You still see people in the planes. You still see people planning their trips to Tag -inin.”

At 100 years old, the Delta has experienced many choppy macroeconomic conditions, including when travel restrictions during the pandemia lead to almost all travel demand. Bastian said in challenging times, he encourages his team to take care of themselves and customers as well.

“Some leaders, when they are that -hit suddenly, I think there is a natural pause, and people are back,” Bastian said. “I think real leaders are coming in here.”

External challenges also give the leaders a chance to re -imagine their business strategy. With all the geopolitical quarrels that came from trade wars between the US and China, Sweet says, the accenture spends a lot of time talking to clients not only about planning scenarios, but also responding to new questions about which markets to invest and where to hunt for growth.

“Some of them are about operational and financial stability, but many of them are about what it means for growth,” Sweet said. “It's not about tariffs, it's also about the broader implications that will have significant opportunities and challenges for businesses.”

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com