Automotive News - October 17, 2016 - Supplement - S20

20 ❙ OCTOBER 17, 2016 A D VA N TA G E C H E V R O L E T, H O D G K I N S , I L L . WORKDAY WORKOUTS Illinois store stretches lunchtimes so employees can exercise Printed in Automotive News March 28, 2016 Hannah Lutz hlutz@crain.com fter two employees at Advantage Chevrolet of Hodgkins, Ill., had heart problems within six months, John Mack, the store's used-car sales manager, made a change. Mack said his colleagues' health issues were his "wake-up call." After he saw them suffer, he asked himself: "Are you going to wait until someⅢ Extended lunch breaks thing happens, or are you goto encourage ing to make some changes in exercise your lifestyle?" Advantage Chevrolet encourages managers to take a two-hour lunch break: one hour for eating and one hour for exercising. The rest of the 90-member fulltime staff can take hour-and-a-half breaks. A 'Healthy release' "We do work a lot of hours in the car business," said Mack, who works about 10 hours per day. "Trying to find time to work out has always been an excuse" to avoid it. Mack's goal is to lose 50 pounds before his 50th birthday in August, and in just seven weeks, despite his demanding work schedule, he has lost 28 pounds. The dealership's F&I manager, who suffered a heart attack over the holidays, is back at work and has taken advantage of the dealership's offer, too. He has lost 25 pounds so far. Advantage Chevrolet has offered the extended lunch option for a few years, after advice to do so from dealer sales training consultant Joe Verde. But no one took advantage of the workout time until recently. Now, eight dealership employees take extended lunch breaks, said Krystal Roberts, variable operations director. "We are constantly in front of the public - selling, servicing cars, dealing with customer concerns," Roberts said. "It's great to have healthy release throughout the day." Advantage Chevrolet, about 20 miles west of Chicago, sold 1,463 new and 1,756 used vehicles last year. The sales department is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Fri- Krystal Roberts, Advantage Chevrolet's variable operations director: Staffers' "productivity has improved, attitudes have improved. They are more alert. They are healthier." day and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays. Managers have one weekend off per month, but when they're on the clock, they work an average of 13 to 15 hours per day, Roberts said. The extensive work Mack: Changes hours are "not a slaveto lifestyle driving system. It's just the nature of the business," she said, adding that employees often choose to work beyond their scheduled hours. If employees take an extended lunch, they can attend any local gym, and the dealer- ship's insurance company gives them a discount for the gym membership. Fast-paced environment Such a fast-paced work environment sometimes leads to unhealthy dietary choices, which spirals into serious health issues, Roberts said. For the employees who have started exercising during the workday, "productivity has improved, attitudes have improved," Roberts said. "They are more alert. They are healthier." "We care about our employees," Roberts said. "We want to make sure they are here for the long haul." c

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