Fun, outstanding family-owned and operated business
where employees are treated like family

BY NANCY GILKEY, SUN STAFF WRITER

FIRST PLACE
Medium Business Category
Accurate Automotive Attention

Accurate Automotive Attention takes the title for the 2007 Workplace Excellence Award in the Medium Business category.

The company is a fun, outstanding family owned and operated business where employees are treated like family, wrote Service Advisor Mitchell Morace in his nomination form.

Staff is heavily involved in the decision-making process, they can earn a monthly bonus, and they receive personal growth training at the company's expense, wrote General Manager Russell McCloud.

"In turn, the employees enjoy a greater degree of satisfaction in their personal lives which translates into happier and healthier employees, ultimately benefiting the company," he said.

Employee engagement, communications and morale

Strategies, new policies and ways to improve operations are discussed in weekly office staff meetings. Employees are encouraged to offer input, and they know their opinions are greatly considered, McCloud said.

If he wishes to implement a new policy but the staff votes it down, it doesn't get implemented.

Automotive technicians also meet with management twice a month to discuss policies and procedures.

"Their input is also encouraged and their ideas are often implemented," McCloud said.

The company treats the employees to lunch once a month, providing an opportunity for laughter and bonding after wrapping up more serious matters, he said.

Because employees know their input is valued, morale is high, he said.

Compensation and rewards

In addition to a flat rate commission pay plan, the company's technicians are also compensated for time spent on twice weekly area clean-ups and in staff meetings.

Culture and change management

To battle complacency and implement a fundamental change in the shop's personal interactions, the company "began a long road of personal improvement," McCloud said.

Employees participate in a very intensive self-improvement program run by Rapport Leadership International at the company's expense. "The investment has been worth every penny since happy employees are the best employees," McCloud said.

Executive perspective

Besides the Rapport Leadership International training, another policy that has been extremely effective is a bonus plan based on timeliness, McCloud said.

In order to decrease employee tardiness and long lunch periods, he instituted a bonus on productivity and added a scoring system based on timeliness in the morning and for lunch periods.

The bonus, which can be in excess of $500 per month, has proved to be "a win-win situation."

Heavy staff involvement in the decision-making process also empowers employees to be part of solutions and policy changes, he said.