Attracting and Retaining Good Employees in Your Tire Business
Every year, the second week in June is recognized as National Automotive Service Professionals Week. In a heavily car-dependent society, we all rely on the work of skilled automotive professionals, and this week is a time to recognize and appreciate them. In honor of National Automotive Service Professionals Week, we’re focusing this article on how you can attract and retain good employees in your tire shop or other automotive industry business.
The Importance of Good Employees
A lot has been written in recent years about a shortage of skilled technicians in the auto industry. Many shop owners identify a lack of good technicians as one of the primary challenges facing their businesses, if not the biggest challenge overall.
In an industry where customers have many different options to choose from, all offering basically the same products and services, a staff of competent and efficient technicians are one of the best ways to build customer loyalty. People will keep coming back to a shop where they know the job will be done right the first time. On the other hand, employee mistakes and turnover can be extremely costly to your business.
So how do you retain good employees and maximize the potential of new hires?
5 Ways to Find and Keep Good Employees in Your Tire Shop
1. Provide Training
Good techs are made, not born, and the best never stop learning. Recent years have seen developments like the increasing popularity of hybrid and electric vehicles which have required automotive industry professionals to learn and adapt, and we can be sure that automotive technology will continue to evolve. This means that properly training new hires and making sure veteran technicians can keep their skills up to date is vital for getting the most productivity out of your staff and keeping your shop from falling behind the times. At Rubber-Inc., we partner with our vendors to bring training directly to you. Ask us how we can help.
2. Emphasize Safety
Good auto shops take safety seriously, and good technicians want to work in shops where safety is taken seriously. Requiring proper safety procedures and equipment demonstrates that you value your technicians more than you value simply getting work done quickly and cheaply. Rubber-Inc. can help you keep your technicians safe on the job with a range of personal protective equipment.
3. Don’t Cut Corners on Equipment & Supplies
Whatever type of work you do, there are few things more frustrating than being forced to do your job with inadequate equipment and supplies. Cutting corners on tools and supplies for the sake of saving money tends to cost you more in the long run as jobs take longer or are completed improperly and frustrated employees move on. From bead blasters to interior protection, Rubber-Inc. carries all of the supplies that technicians will need to keep your tire shop running smoothly.
4. Pay Fair Compensation
You can’t get around the importance of paying your technicians competitive wages. High demand for technicians means that if you don’t pay your staff what they’re worth, they’ll start working for someone else who will. As we’ve already mentioned, staff turnover and fixing mistakes made by inexperienced or incompetent technicians can cost your business big. Good employees are the best investment you can make for your business.
5. Listen
Employees are individuals, and every workplace is different. There’s no way that we can cover all of the things that your employees might prioritize when deciding whether to stay in their current situation or move on. The best way to keep your employees happy is a policy of listening and openness. Encourage employees to share feedback, concerns, and suggestions.
Appreciating Automotive Service Professionals
A workplace culture that attracts high-quality technicians and makes them want to stick around doesn’t happen by accident. It takes intentionality, hard work, investment, and a willingness to listen and improve.
Even if you’re doing all the right things to keep your staff happy, Automotive Service Professionals Week is a great time to go the extra mile to show how much you appreciate them.
At Rubber-Inc, we’re proud to have been a trusted partner to vital automotive industry businesses for over 80 years. We can provide all the supplies and equipment your team needs to get the job done right, stay safe, and keep customers coming back. Contact us today to find out how we can help your business.