Many colleagues in the industry seem to be confused about managing labor inventory in their shops. Much of the confusion comes from the terminology thrown around the industry and because the definitions for these terms vary (no disrespect to my peers). I would like to clarify, from my perspective, what I believe to be the proper terminology and formulas for managing labor inventory.
The cold, hard facts make it abundantly clear: Companies, including automotive repair shops, need to change how they treat employees, not only if they want high retention rates, but simply if they want to succeed. After all, less than a third of American workers feel engaged at work, according to a 2013 Gallup Poll. This should matter to repair shops, if for no other reason than because statistics suggest the more engaged employees are, the more likely they’ll stay – and the more successful their companies will become.
If you want to build a more profitable, successful auto repair business, you’ll need to make sure that every single employee has a clearly defined, written job description. If you’re a shop owner who has a manager in place, then here’s a list of things you will need to include in their job description.
When it comes to a small business, every penny counts, just like every employee counts, in the successful operation of the business. But with health insurance and major benefits being too expensive for most small businesses to offer, how do you balance being able to recruit and retain good employees with benefits and incentives while keeping an eye on the bottom line of the business?

One of the most common questions we hear from shop owners is regarding how often they should perform employee reviews. I would like to use this article to not only answer this question, but to provide you with a guide that will enable you to perform reviews that will keep your employees happy and productive.

No company of any size is truly safe from those seeking to access customer and company data. And, if a large, multi-billion dollar corporation’s systems are vulnerable to attack, then surely a local retailer – like an auto repair shop – can easily fall victim. Luckily, there are many ways to protect your business against data breaches and hacking, from computer security tactics and software programs to employee education and even insurance policies.

In the coming years, there will be an absolute explosion that will take place in the vehicle infotainment industry. I am referring to the mixture of onboard data such as onboard diagnostics, guidance systems and vehicle control features, and the entertainment/communication features such as Wi-Fi, voice texting and audio/video systems.
While you face challenges at your business every day, my goal is to take some of the mystery and confusion out of the employment law dilemmas faced by small businesspeople. One of the areas about which I get the most questions is hiring and firing employees. Hiring and firing is a challenge, but by following a few tips, you can make better decisions and reduce your risk of defending an expensive lawsuit.
As we all strive to grow to our full human height, I view my role as a coach is to stoke the flame of greatness and goodness in others. It is an honor to perpetuate the values of human dignity, integrity and compassion, which leads to a common condition that this group of ambitious and talented individuals encounter each day. In fact, all of us do, in today’s technological culture – it’s the lack of “Me Time.”

Human Resources is often so intimately involved in the day-to-day operations of a company that a lot of employers wonder if they could ever effectively outsource it. Small business can not only effectively outsource HR to a managed services team, but can run a stronger company and more productive workforce with an external HR consultant, or managed HR services provider.