26 February 2011

First Solar in Germany recognized by Great Place to Work Institute

The Great Place to Work Institute (an international research and consulting organization active in 40 countries) has recognized the German operations of First Solar Inc of Tempe, AZ, USA, which manufactures thin-film photovoltaic (PV) modules based on cadmium telluride (CdTe), as one of the best places to work in Germany.

First Solar finished 14th on the list of employers in the category of companies with 500–2000 employees. The firm is also the only manufacturer in eastern Germany to be recognized with the coveted prize.

The prize was awarded by the Great Place to Work Institute in cooperation with the New Quality of Work Initiative, the Federal Ministry for Labor and Social Affairs, the University of Cologne, the Handelsblatt newspaper, and the personalmagazin human resources magazine. It applies to First Solar’s German operations, which include First Solar Manufacturing GmbH in Frankfurt/Oder, the firm's Mainz sales and marketing headquarters, a holding company and a small team working in Berlin. First Solar Manufacturing GmbH also made the list of top employers in Germany in 2010.

“The prize recognizes our philosophy of providing every employee an attractive job in an attractive sector from production to sales and customer service,” says First Solar GmbH's managing director Stephan Hansen. “We also offer attractive salaries and share our success with employees with shares and an annual bonus,” he said.

First Solar employs more than 800 people in Germany (700 in Frankfurt/Oder, and more than 100 in Mainz and Berlin). The firm is in the process of expanding its German manufacturing operations to double production and create another 500 jobs.

The award was the result of an anonymous survey by the Great Place to Work Institute among the firm's employees. Topics such as credibility, respect, fairness, pride and team spirit accounted for 67% of the weighted result. The remaining 33% was the result of a cultural audit that analyzed the firm's human resources plans and practices.

Tags: First Solar Thin-film photovoltaic CdTe

Visit: www.firstsolar.com

Visit: www.greatplacetowork.com

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