what to do when your frustrated with your employees

[Kenny C]

Hello evryone i am new here and have a few questions.I have owned my shop for 6 years now and i have 2 techs and a service writer. The problem is that i am tired of their lack of performance the 2 techs walk around as if they own the place one just came in the other day with a blue tooth for his cell phone and i almost flipped a gasket. they are good techs and my shop is busy now but i cant stand it anymore i have talked with them about this a couple of times now and i just want to fire everyone.I have put adds on craigs list but no one worth hiring at this point or we dont get calls at all. I dont know what else to do has anyone been in this boat befor? And my service writer has been under selling jobs at times or makes excuses of why the job was done so cheap and gets upset when i correct him. some help please thanks.

Edited April 3, 2013 by Kenny C

[Jeff]

I first of all would develop an employee handbook. Explain your point to them and your expectations. I understand your fear of being understaffed BUT if they walk or need to be let go so be it. You are the boss and owner and it all falls at your feet. Just my $1.85 worth (2 cents with inflation).

[CARMandP]

How are you paying them? Maybe you need to consider paying them with some kind of insentive. And Jeff is correct. You need a handbook if you don't have one with exactly what you expect from them and what they can expect from you.

[5 Star Auto Spa]

Employee's will only produce to a level that is set forth by management. If you do not feel that the techs you have understand the reasons why you are upset and will not change to improve the business, then it is time to look for new techs. This is obviously assuming you have confronted them and given them the reasons you are upset and they are clear with this information. Of course finding new techs that are good is another problem in itself. This information also applies to the front of the house/service advisor. At the end of the day Jeff is right. You and you alone are the bottom line at your business.

[Gary A]

Don't buy into the lie that you cant find good help. When I began hiring I went through many people and it seemed hopeless. After time and perserverance though I did find 2 great employees and it was not about the money either. I tried offering more money at one point and that was not the answer. Just keep trying and searching and the right people will come your way. I will say the cell phone issue is a tough one

Edited April 3, 2013 by Gary A

[HarrytheCarGeek]

First, look in the mirror and see if the problem begins with you. That's what I have had to do when things are not going my way.

 

Then, sit down and write down your expectations. Set the list aside for a day and then review it, add or delete to it. Set it aside again, and then see if you can get a clear idea of what you want and if you have reasonable expectations.

 

Primadonna mechanics are a pain, but there is a way to deal with them. One of them is to hurt them in the wallet when they do not perform as expected.

 

The primary problem when defining your expectations will be to articulate and know what is the problem that you are having. In my business the most fundamental problem I had was finding what was a reasonable expectation of a net profit.

 

After doing my research, I came to realize that what I wanted was not reasonable and my shop was in fact much more prosperous than the industry norm. That was a hard pill to swallow at first, then a gladness at the fact I was running an excellent shop.

 

YMMV...

Edited April 4, 2013 by HarrytheCarGeek