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Yeah, "quiet quitting" may be the newest catchphrase, but I have to admit the behavior hasn't changed.  Reminds me of a former employee named "Mario" that I once had.  I wrote a warning letter to him that basically said I'm keeping an eye on him.  The final straw was when one of my other employees mistakenly filled a recirculating parts washer with hexane (bulk brakleen) instead of Stoddard solvent.  I would buy both by the drum and the employee merely got them confused.  Lo and behold, hexane is extremely flammable and that's exactly what happened.  The parts washer caught on fire with 20' high flames.  I thought Mario was running to get a fire extinguisher but instead, he went to grab his phone so he could take pictures/video of the calamity.  After the fire, I fired Mario and he's been unemployed ever since.  Nobody will hire him.  

I have probably invested around $500-$600 in eye exams and glasses for my employees.  It is really a thinking error to believe that 20/20 eagle vision is not needed in this line of work.  More recently, I had my hearing tested and invested in hearing aids.  If glasses make you think you're old, hearing aids make you think you're about to kick the bucket. About 6 months ago the FDA approved Over-The-Counter hearing aids.  The days of spending thousands on hearing tests and hearing aids are long gone.  I paid $350 for my current, high-quality, 8-band hearing aids.  I paid $25 for the hearing test that gave me a direction for adjusting each of the 8 bands in the hearing aids.  For less than $400, it was money well-spent.

Great topic. I remember being stubborn too, and told my self that I would hold out until I was 50 before wearing reading glasses.  How foolish.  At 48 I gave in. 

Employees today will disengage if they don’t feel valued. by Joe Marconi: Quiet Quitting: New Phrase, Old Problem - Featured in Ratchet and Wrench Magazine  Some people go to work each day with great enthusiasm and believe they can change the world. But then, others anticipate each workday with feelings of despair. These employees do the bare minimum; just enough to keep their jobs and go unnoticed. They are called quiet quitters.  While quiet quitting may be the latest catchphrase, it's not a new workplace disorder. We've called them disgruntled, disengaged and even toxic in the past. But who's responsible for this behavior? Is it the employee? Or is there a deeper problem brewing in the workplace?   Work has Evolved  As a young technician in the mid-1970s, the shop owner was typically at the top of the pinnacle. It was common back then for a boss to run his company with the mindset, "my way or the highway." Was it wrong? Perhaps. Thinking back, I don't think we clearly understood or appreciated the role we played in the workplace or how we fit into the company's structure. We accepted things the way they were, unlike employees today. I also believe we felt we couldn't change how things were.   Today, it's a lot different. There has been a shift in the workplace. Societal changes, the internet and social media have changed our exposure and heightened our awareness of the world and the issues that confront us daily. Today, employees of every generation believe they should have a voice in the company's decisions and direction. It's important that their opinions count and that their job role has a purpose. Of course, earning a decent living is top of mind, but as always, not the prime motivator. At the top of what's most important is the workplace environment and the employee experience. When employees lack the experience they crave, they become disengaged, leading to what we call quiet quitting.   Employees Want Accountable Leaders  Lack of trust in leadership is another factor in quiet quitting. Shop owners and managers must communicate what their employees can expect from management and not only what management expects from them. Consistency in the message and following through on promises contribute to workplace morale. After all, if you can't trust the message, you will not trust the messenger.   Some people will excel in any work environment. However, they are the exception, not the rule. If you want a team of employees where everyone is pulling in the right direction, you should consider the needs and opinions of your employees.      If you are concerned that understanding your employee's point of view and acting on it is giving up control of your company, don't be. Earlier, I referred to shop owners from years back. Most of them had a good business but not a great business. The reason was that they were the business. Growth was difficult because it was dependent mainly on their abilities and talents. This one fact alone causes a business to plateau. However, when a business combines different points of view and strategies from the team, greater growth is possible.   Start Within  Lastly, there will always be employees who won't be happy no matter what you do. If you are confident that you have done all you can to help a quiet quitter, the only hope at that point is for the employee to look within themselves, which may be difficult for most people. Instead, focus more on what you can do. Look within yourself to ensure you are doing everything possible to create an amazing employee experience. Your goal must be to create happy employees. We've all heard the expression, "happy employees create happy customers." Well, they create happy employers, too.   View full article

When we were young, we had 20/20 vision.  Somewhere around the age of 40, our vision unknowingly began to deteriorate.  It’s such a subtle change it goes on with little to no obvious signs.  Just the thought of wearing glasses is very uncomfortable to me.  It makes me think I’m getting old.  Not everyone can afford an eye exam and glasses, either.   I’ve been wearing glasses for the last 27 years.  I’ve noticed a gradual decline in my eyesight for those 27 years because every year, a new prescription gets a little bit stronger.  But that’s OK because I still have 20/20 vision with my glasses.  Without them, my eyesight is really poor.   I once had a middle-aged builder who would miss little things like bad bushings, thrust washers, and ring lands.  It finally dawned on me one day that I never saw this middle-aged builder with glasses.  He had none.   One day I offered to take him to Costco for their $1.50 hot dog and a drink.  My ulterior motive was to get his eyes examined and get him fitted for glasses.   It worked.  He already knew his eyesight was poor yet chose to do nothing about it.  Here I was footing the bill.  For a mere $125, he got his eyes examined and a new pair of glasses.  The best investment a shop owner could invest in… their staff.   The moral of the story is to have any employee 40 or older get their eyes examined.  It doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.  You’ll also have fewer warranty jobs as a result.

Many auto repair shops are still busy, and many are booked out from a few days to weeks.  After the initial shock of Covid, the recovery for our independent auto repair industry has been quite good, with many positive indicators for the future. However, how many of the auto repair shops that did suffer a great loss in business during the lockdown phase of Covid would have survived if not for the SBA loans, the Pay Protection Program and the Employee Retention Credit?   Building a cash reserve is crucial to prepare yourself for the next economic downturn.  How much should you set aside?  That depends on your business model, how much debt you have and other financial conditions.  Speak to your accountant, financial advisor and business coach, if you have one.  Rule of thumb, you should have at least three months of operating expenses set aside in a dedicated bank account.  Some accountants and financial advisors may suggest up to six months. 

Military Veterans are structured, understand the team concept, and also have leadership skills. Many of them were trusted with multi-million equipment. While many of their skills may not transferrable,  many are looking at life after the military and are seeking careers in the trades.  We should offer them opportunity. Also, we should consider veterans in other positions in addition to tech: service advisors, managers, office personnel, etc.  Below are two websites for more information: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/employers/workforce-development-solutions One key role of the public workforce system is to help businesses find the qualified workers they need. As a business, you will find an impressive array of screening and referral tools available. Depending on the capabilities and priorities of the local area, the services may include electronic job orders and job fairs, use of private interview space, background checks and customized screening, and regular referrals of qualified candidates. https://www.esgr.mil/ ESGR understands the unique talents and skill set Guard and Reserve Service members can bring to the civilian workforce. To make this arrangement work, both parties must be aware of their rights and responsibilities under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). Learn more.

Technician Round Table: Mobile Technicians with Matt Fanslow. Is the mobile business a symptom of the industry evolving? What is the future outlook of the mobile repair business? Are shops charging what they are worth instead of a race to the bottom? Is there a need to improve the culture and the atmosphere in shops?   Matt Fanslow, Riverside Automotive, Red Wing, MN, Diagnosing the Aftermarket A to Z Podcast Zack McClain John Rogers Sean Hill Show Notes: Are shops evolving? Are shops only having 5 ‘C’ technicians with a mobile diag technician getting outsourced? Reading, comprehension, and explanation of service information Shops must have service information and use it Failure is a great motivator- it motivates you to be better Have a learning atmosphere in the shop How do you treat your technician when something goes wrong? Electricians, HVAC, plumbers, construction, etc are at the high schools- the automotive industry must also have a place Charge what you’re worth- don’t race to the bottom; elevate the industry Image problem- people don’t view automotive professionals as professionals. Is the mobile business a symptom of the industry? Future of the mobile business- reduced but still evolving. Thanks to our Partners Shop-Ware and Delphi Technologies Shop-Ware: More Time. More Profit. Shop-Ware Shop Management getshopware.com Delphi Technologies: Keeping current on the latest vehicle systems and how to repair them is a must for today’s technicians. DelphiAftermarket.com Connect with the Podcast -Join our Insider List: https://remarkableresults.biz/insider -All books mentioned on our podcasts: https://remarkableresults.biz/books -Our Classroom page for personal or team learning: https://remarkableresults.biz/classroom -Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/carm -The Aftermarket Radio Network: https://aftermarketradionetwork.com -Special episode collections: https://remarkableresults.biz/collections       Click to go to the Podcast on Remarkable Results Radio