WACKER’s headcount fell in 2013 by 1.7 percent (283 employees). In 2014, the workforce increased by 694 employees (4.3 percent). At the 2013 reporting date (December 31), WACKER had 16,009 employees worldwide, and 16,703 a year later.

The decline in 2013 was mainly due to a restrictive hiring policy when filling open positions. Furthermore, Siltronic began merging the organization of the Burghausen and Freiberg sites in this year. In Germany, the number of employees at Siltronic was reduced by around 300 in the period under review through intra-Group transfers, phased early retirement and voluntary severance packages. The short-time work schedule that had been introduced at Burghausen’s polysilicon facilities back in early October 2012 was canceled in February 2013. WACKER made this decision amid growing demand from its solar-sector customers.

The number of employees increased again in 2014 due to the Group taking a majority stake in the Siltronic Samsung Wafer Pte. Ltd. joint venture in Singapore and acquiring Scil Proteins Production GmbH in Halle, Germany.

Most employees (just under three quarters) are based in Germany, the remainder abroad. While the number of permanent contracts in the period under review went up, the number of fixed-term contracts fell once more. Some 98 percent of WACKER employees groupwide have permanent contracts.

The company follows a flexible personnel-planning strategy in order to deal with production peaks and economic downturns, while at the same time protecting the permanent staff. If we must save on personnel costs, we first reduce the number of temporary workers. The next phase involves not renewing fixed-term contracts. The third step is to consider introducing short-time work in those business divisions most affected by a downturn. All of these measures are decided in close consultation with employee representatives.

WACKER regularly informs its employees regarding current trends within and outside of the Group that could affect business development. Employees receive up-to-date and comprehensive information on material changes in operations. The respective national and international duties of disclosure are hereby observed.