Your smash repair’s ability to create and deliver quality, speed and cost-effective jobs is vital to the current and future success of your business. Attracting and retaining quality employees is the foundation for achieving this, yet this can be a challenge in today’s economy. Everyone is always looking for the greener grass on the other side, so if your smash repair shop isn’t doing everything it can to attract and retain quality employees, talented staff won’t be hesitant to jump ship. The hard truth is most shop owners are more focused on sales rather than their employees, but the reality is your employees are the most important asset to your shop. So, if you’re struggling to find and maintain good staff, here are 4 steps you can take to turn your smash repair business around.
1. Investing in Training
The Automotive IRC’s 2019 Skills Forecast identified Vehicle Body Repair as an industry where training for employees has not been adapted to the rapid change and advancements in technology. The smash repair sector has been impacted by a range of new technologies and employees in the industry aren’t always adequately trained to effectively use these new technologies. This includes things like advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and paintless dent repair (PDR). As such, if you want to attract and retain the highest quality employees, it’s safe to say investing in ongoing training is a must. The body shop industry develops at an exceptionally fast pace, and without ongoing training, it is impossible for employees to keep up with modern vehicle repair techniques.
2. Promote Open Communication
Promoting a culture of open communication is also important when it comes to attracting and retaining quality employees. The internal climate and overall culture of your body shop is vital, and most employees will agree that a company with a good workplace culture which treats its team with respect and has approachable managers is key to keeping staff. A lot of what makes workplace culture good or bad boils down to communication. Open communication between all staff is crucial. Establish trust, listen to what you are hearing and repsond accordingly. As a business owner, it’s imperative you encourage informal, and direct and open communication on all levels. By allowing your team to speak out and be heard when they need to be, you’re being proactive and taking care of any issues before they escalate and strengthening the bond between your entire team. Be willing to accept critiscism the same way you expect your employees to ; not as a personal attack. Get your employees involved and make them feel they are part of something special.
3. Positive Workspace
A positive workspace means different things to different people, but there are some basic ways you can turn your body shop into a positive environment that employees not only want to be in, but will thrive in.
A well planned-out shop
A poorly laid out body shop can cause major headaches for employees as it often results in confusion and unnecessary bottlenecks. This of course results in increased tension in the team, as well as delays and lower quality work. Employees don’t want to be wasting time finding tools, they want to crack on with the job and keep the body shop workflow moving. If your body shop layout could use some work to make it easier to navigate, it’s a worthwhile investment to not only keep your team happy but the quality of work high too.
A clean workspace
Shop layout is one thing, but having a clean workspace is also just as important. Ensuring tools are put away and rubbish and debris are cleared as soon as possible will greatly improve the working conditions and experience for your employees. And, while on the topic of clean, having clean bathrooms and showers are also crucial. If your shop doesn’t have a shower, it might be worthwhile installing a dedicated shower room. This will greatly improve your employees’ quality of life. For example, they can go straight from work to a social event without having to head home to shower first.
First-class tools
If your smash repair shop has sub-par tools this is likely to be a huge detractor for potential employees (and is probably an issue for your current employees too). Hiring the best talent means giving that talent the best available tools to work with. You don’t want to restrict and limit your quality employees by the lack of tools your shop has, or the inefficiency of these tools. It’s important to not cut corners when it comes to tools, because this won’t only deter quality employees, it will also mean the quality of work will not be top-notch either.
Health and safety equipment
Working in a body shop takes its toll on employees, which is why it’s important you do everything you can to make the workplaces as safe as possible. This means having PPE equipment like respirators, dust masks, gloves, and other protective gear. Irrespective of body shop and workplace laws, these are the kind of things that will greatly improve how your employees feel about coming to work.
4. Appreciate and Recognise Workers
While this should go without saying, appreciating, and recognising your employees for their hard work and dedication is vital. Every person – no matter what industry – needs some appreciation for their efforts. An easy “thank you” or “good work” can greatly boost your employee’s confidence and improve their productivity. Being grateful for the hard work doesn’t take a lot of effort on your part, but it can go a very long way in retaining your best employees.
Inspire your employees, help them to live and achieve their goals so they feel energized. This energy is then transferred to your customers who will benefit from this. Retaining valuable employees requires ongoing care so it is important to lead by example.
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