Some companies strive to be a “best place to work” by following the latest workplace trends, such as furnishing offices with things like foosball tables and in-office spas, to try and keep employees happy. Other companies go beyond perks, forming a culture that supports passions and purpose – giving their employees time and tools to innovate solutions that impact society. Technology company Continental is one such purpose-driven enterprise, and Fortune Magazine has just named it one of the 18 Best Big Companies to Work For and the only manufacturing company to make the prestigious list.
“We strive to attract employees who are committed to making the world a better place. We give our employees the freedom to act and empower them with opportunities to learn, grow and meet their professional and personal goals,” said Samir Salman, CEO of Continental North America. “We are honored to join an impressive list of employee-focused organizations as one of the Best Big Companies to Work For.”
Continental is filled with stories of high-achieving employees serving their communities as well as the company. Two examples:
• Last year, a personal tragedy that involved a wrong-way driver killing an entire family hit close to home for a Continental employee. Jonathan Stone, head of Programs for Research and Advanced Engineering at Continental, knew the family and turned his grief into action. With the company’s support, Stone and his team developed technology that warns drivers through a dashboard or mobile alert whenever a nearby car is driving the wrong way. Crashes involving wrong-way drivers are among the most catastrophic, averaging more than one fatality per crash. This potentially life-saving technology is now being piloted in Auburn Hills, Michigan, as part of a Smart City Mobility and Transportation Hub.
• Kabir Maiga, a former Continental engineer that worked on keyless entry technology for vehicles, got an idea at work one day to develop a keyless home-entry system. He pitched the idea to Continental via its co-pace startup program and now, with the company’s backing, Kabir is the founder of his own company, PassiveBolt, located in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Unique opportunities like these make Continental an employer of choice for innovators and visionaries. Its employees impact the future of mobility in three ways: environmentally, economically and socially.
“At Continental, we’re committed to our employees and proud of the ideas they bring to work,” said Rick Ledsinger, senior vice president of Human Relations, Continental North America and Tire the Americas. “Their passion drives Continental forward and inspires us to continue to make our company an enjoyable, exciting and fulfilling place to work. From our co-pace program, to tuition reimbursement, Software Academy and our investment in diversifying and retooling our workforce, Continental is leading the way for technology employers.”
For consideration on Fortune’s Best Big Companies to Work For list, companies must employ at least 1,000 employees in the United States and at least 100,000 employees globally. To determine the list, research firm Great Place to Work surveys employees about working conditions and the ability to reach their full potential. In addition to these experiences, the process reviews workforce make-up, size, and industry and regional standards to create the final list.
