Automotive News Canada - October 2019 - v2 - 37

* O C T O B E R 2 0 19

Best Dealerships To Work For

'Open-door policy' keeps
dealership family together
Trips and barbecues are fine,
but solid communication
is key to a happy work force

But we ask them to make those decisions."
Technicians meet monthly with Leavens
head management - not just their service
manager - to share what is going on in the
shop.
"These people are my family. We spend
By GLORIA GALLOWAY
more time with them often than we do with
O T TAWA C O R R E S P O N D E N T
our own families," said Leavens. "We really
try, as a family, to look after them."
Scott Weller, general manager of Jaguar"WE ARE FAMILY" IS A COMMON
Land Rover-Volvo Waterloo, echoed the
refrain from dealership managers who say
notion that a dealership is a family.
they are nurturing a workplace environ"Most importantly, in terms of work-life
ment that feels like home.
balance, when we are so engaged with peoWhile many of the 25 dealers who made
ple, they are comfortable coming
it to the list of Automotive News
and asking for stuff," said Weller.
Canada's Best Dealerships To Work
"When that communication hapFor reward employees with bonuses,
pens, people will pull together."
trips, electronics and social outings,
The key, said Jocelyn
those who are good at keeping the
Joannette, general manager of
family together say communication
HGregoire Kia Vaudreuil in
is key to success.
Montreal area, is "letting [staff]
"For me, being leader of the store,
know what they have to do, and
if there is an issue, my door is open,"
how they have to do it, and the
said Brent Walker, the general manreason why. If they know why,
ager of Eastside Dodge in Calgary.
Jonathan
they will do it well."
"If it's employee related, or manEltes, dealer
agement related, we can have that
principal at
CLOCK? WHAT CLOCK?
discussion, because sometimes in
Mercedes-Benz
a dealership, you can have a wall
Joannette said he spends much
Brampton,
between departments. And we break said that
of his day talking to his technidown that wall."
cians and sales staff, making sure
managers try to
David Tyson, president of Tyson
they are happy.
accommodate
and Associates Ltd., a Toronto-based employees'
Some of the Best Dealerships
compensation firm, is the editor of a schedules. "If
offer perks for their employees,
you are getting
book called Best Practices: Employee
such as on-site fitness facilities.
Retention and Engagement. He said it your job done
Jaguar-Land Rover Waterloo has
and promoting
is difficult to exaggerate the importa lactation room where new mothour core values, ers can breastfeed. Many try to
ant role communication plays in
it's all good."
keeping workers in the fold.
offer flexible hours, even though
PHOTO:
"I have been in human resources
that can be difficult at a store that
MERCEDES-BENZ
for 50 years, and, to me, if you don't
is open during set times of the
BRAMPTON
tell people something straight forday.
ward and honestly, they make it up and they
''If it's a matter of picking up your child
get it wrong."
from school, flexible vacation time during
the holiday season, additional time off needAT WORK, BUT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE WORK
ed, we're not breathing down anyone's
neck," said Jonathan Eltes, dealer principal
Good communication also makes staff
at Mercedes-Benz Brampton.
feel valued, and it creates an environment
"If you are getting your job done and prowhere employees enjoy the hours they
moting our core values, it's all good."
spend at work, said dealers interviewed by
Like many dealerships, Mercedes-Benz
Automotive News Canada.
Brampton organizes a variety of social outThey stressed the importance of getting
ings for employees.
to know their workers on a personal basis,
In 2018, for example, the dealership rentand of making it known that their doors are
ed the Scotiabank Arena in downtown
open when questions or challenges arise.
Toronto for a family skate. This year, a trip
Chris Leavens, dealer principal at
to Mexico is being offered to all staff, the
Leavens Automotive Group in southwestcosts of which will be offset by the dealerern Ontario, said his company puts a high
ship or covered in full if targets are met.
emphasis on employee communications
Tyson said those kinds of social events
and engagement.
do not directly improve employee retention
"It's really about the culture where we
as no one stays in a job they hate because
have empowered all of our staff to make the
of a trip to Mexico. But they do provide
call and make the decisions about whatever
enhanced opportunities for communication
is best for the customer. And, if afterward
between all staff members at all levels, and
we don't like it, we will certainly discuss it.
that is what is important, said Tyson.
"Group activity builds camaraderie
and collaboration and friendship, and just
talking to each other is good. It's all part of
good communication."
At Riverside Dodge-Chrysler-Jeep-Ram
in Prince Albert, Sask., about 350 kilometres north of Regina, monthly "team huddles" are held, allowing both staff and management to air concerns, issues and questions, said Dealer Principal Trent Hargrave.
"It's important that they hear my voice and
I hear theirs."
The meeting wraps up with the
announcement of the employee of the
month.
The goal of Brent Walker, general manager
"It's not a performance-based thing. It's
of Eastside Dodge in Calgary, Alta.,
based on completely ambiguous criteria. It's
pictured at a staff barbecue, is to break
about willingness to grow, willingness to
down "the walls" of communication.
step up." - ANC
PHOTO: EASTSIDE DODGE

Mercedes-Benz Brampton takes steps to recruit employees
who mirror market demographics. From left, employees Nadia
Chaudhry, Nicole Romero and Krystina Pedley.
PHOTO: MERCEDES-BENZ BRAMPTON

Mercedes-Benz
Brampton
Brampton, Ont.

lDealer Principal:
Jonathan Eltes
lNumber of Employees: 118
l2018 new-vehicle sales:
1,331, up 0.76%
l2018 used-vehicle sales:
656, up 29.65%

Human Resources
Administrator Nicole Romero
on helping employees
develop a career path:
We have a career-path chart
that we show employees so
they know the timelines and
options that could be available
to them in the future. We provide training and job shadowing to help them find the right
path. Promoting from within
is always looked at before posting positions externally.
Romero on methods developed to reward employees and
show they are valued: We have

a "Massive-Value" competition
where we recognize employees for their massive value to
the dealership. These winning
teams get put into a draw for
prizes at the end of the year.
To date, two trips, plus televisions, iPads and iPhones have
been awarded. Each Monday
morning begins with a "jumpstart" rally [where] a different employee speaks regarding our core values, business
updates, positive news to
share. Birthdays, anniversaries and special occasions are
also recognized.
Dealer Principal Jonathan Eltes
on steps taken to reflect the
community, market demographics and cultural diversity, and to attract female
employees: We currently have
a diverse demographic and
[company] culture. We try to
hire employees who reflect
each ethnic background. We
have attracted many women
employees and given them
a step into the dealership
through job roles like BDC
[business development centre].

HGrégoire Kia
Vaudreuil

Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que.
l General manager:
Jocelyn Joannette

l Dealership group: HGregoire
l Number of employees: 34
l 2018 new-vehicle sales: N/A
l 2018 used-vehicle sales: N/A
(Dealership opened in November 2018)

General Manager Jocelyn
Joannette on unique ways developed to reward employees and
show them they are valued: We
treat our employees with respect,
and we work as a team to make
sure that the process is followed
by the book. All employees know
what they have to do, and we give
bonuses to employees who are
making a difference in our business.
Joannette on how technology is
affecting the dealership workplace:
We deal with a lot of e-learning and
constant courses on the web.
Joannette on steps taken to ensure
the dealership reflects the com-

Receptionist Sonia
Bombardier greets
customers at HGrégoire
Kia Vaudreuil. The
dealership hires people
who want to work in the
car business and those
who are willing to learn.
PHOTO: HGRÉGOIRE KIA
VA U D R E U I L

munity's demographics
and cultural diversity: We
hire everyone who wants to
work in the car business. If
they are willing to learn, we
are willing to hire.

Automotive News Canada - October 2019 - v2

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Automotive News Canada - October 2019 - v2