Earth Friendly Products has raised the minimum wage for its employees to a stunning $17.00 per hour. This announcement by the world’s largest green cleaning products manufacturer came on Earth Day, highlighting the core values of caring for its customers, its employees and our planet, implemented by its late founder Van Vlahakis.
“Van” Vlahakis’ last great act was to raise minimum wage to $17.00 per hour. Additionally, all Earth Friendly Products’ employees received an extra week’s pay,” EFP announced on Earth day.
The US federal minimum wage is currently at $7.25. The minimum wage in California is $8.00 per hour and it will increase to $9.00 per hour effective July 1, 2014. Earth Friendly Products has gradually upped pay for its employees from $12 to $15 and now, $17.
“There are really two things we’re looking at: the humanitarian aspect and the business aspect,” said Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks who has succeeded her father at Earth Friendly Products during an interview with FBN’s Cheryl Casone.
“On the business side of it, there a lot of transactional costs when you have employee turnover — when you don’t have retention.”
“My father knew what it takes to really work hard. He’s worked the factory lines; he knows that each and every employee is critical to our success.”
“He didn’t speak the English language. He lived in homeless shelters and really studied chemistry and started our company,” added Vlahakis-Hanks.
Van Vlahakis, the man who was forced to live in homeless shelters when he arrived in the States, ten years later founded the green giant known today as Earth Friendly Products.
Earth Friendly Products is the manufacturer of the #1 selling ‘green’ laundry detergent in the world, ECOS; the first to manufacture a pH neutral auto-dishwashing gel, Wave; and has won awards for progressive business practices, including its use of renewable energy and offering employees financial incentives for buying hybrid or other green vehicles. With over 300 employees, five geographically diverse manufacturing facilities in the United States, more than 150 products and worldwide distribution, Earth Friendly Products topped $100 million in sales last year.
EFP Hellas has also launched Earth Week Hellas to celebrate Earth Day in Athens!
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
