OpenRoad Auto Group has created engaged employees across its 10 B.C. stores
Distinction helps set B.C. dealer group apart from competitors
You might think your dealership staff are happy and engaged, but have you asked them their opinion? Better yet, have you measured their level of engagement with the best companies in Canada from across all industries?
Companies brave enough to want to know where they really stand often take part in evaluations such as the Aon Hewitt’s Best Employers in Canada evaluation.
The Vancouver, B.C. area dealership group OpenRoad Auto Group has taken part in the annual competition for several years and in 2011 was ranked in 7th place on the prestigious list of the best employers in the country — the only auto group ranked in the top 10. (The only other automotive retailer to make the list was Winnipeg’s the Birchwood Auto Group who were ranked in 15th place this year.) OpenRoad operates 10 dealerships, selling nine import brands — Lexus, Toyota, Scion, Audi, BMW, Mini, Honda, Mazda and Hyundai.
It’s the third year the company has ranked highly. Other top performing companies include household names such as Cisco Canada, WestJet, McDonald’s, FedEx, and Delta Hotels & Resorts. The rankings are based primarily on anonymous online responses from employees.
“I am very proud of the fact that OpenRoad has once again made the list of Canada’s 50 Best Employers, and thank our employees for their vote of confidence in our company,” said Christian Chia CEO of OpenRoad Auto Group in a news release. “What we have accomplished together, is making our company a truly unique place to work and we are committed to build this community even stronger by keeping open dialogue with our employees to foster growth as a company and as a family.”
Because 90 per cent of the business model is the same from one dealership to another, Chia says making that last 10 per cent really count is crucial. “We have to differentiate ourselves by offering the best service provision and that means the quality of our people.”
The key measure in the evaluation is employee engagement, explains Sharon Rupal, OpenRoad’s HR Director in an interview with Canadian auto dealer. “We had over 92% of our associates participate in the survey,” says Rupal. The survey, she says, measures how positively employees feel towards the organization, how likely they are to stay, and how likely they are to do their utmost to help the company achieve its objectives. “This really demonstrates that each and every member of the OpenRoad Auto Group is responsible for the results.”
The company decided to get involved in the ranking process because it wanted to benchmark its performance and identify areas for improvement. “It’s nice to be recognized. But we first decided to participate too get a better understanding of where we need to focus more on,” she says, adding that the survey results are provided back to the company to help them improve.
The annual survey is just one way the company measures feedback from employees. Rupal says they have an online form that employees can fill out and send directly to the company’s CEO Christian Chia. “He absolutely loves it,” says Rupal. “We have created a workplace where people are recognized for their individual say.”
The company also developed 11 “climate goals” that it publishes on its website to help explain the company’s mission internally and to customers.
Climate Goals
OpenRoad Auto Group says it operates under a set of eleven climate goals that illustrate its commitment to staff associates and guests for a progressive, ethical, and fair-minded workplace.
OpenRoad Associates:
- Are encouraged to develop and perform to their full potential.
- Are recognized and acknowledged individually for their contributions, personal development and length of service.
- Are encouraged to express their viewpoints and openly share new ideas.
- Lead by example and help each other practice and support the Climate Goals.
- Are honest and fair in all dealings with each other, customers and suppliers.
- Carry out their responsibilities with the highest degree of care and safety for themselves, co-workers and customers.
- Maintain a flexible approach in dealing with changes to staff and operating methods.
- Have clear and challenging individual and team goals and are committed to achieving them.
- Are involved in decisions that directly affect them and those decisions will be well made and communicated.
- Share leadership according to whom is best able to lead.
- Are committed to offer productive solutions for any criticism they may have.
“Those organizations ranked highest on the list have employee engagement of close to 90 per cent,” said Neil Crawford, Aon Hewitt’s leader of the Best Employers in Canada study. “That’s an impressive accomplishment, particularly now when many parts of the Canadian economy are showing signs of recovery and employee attraction and retention is becoming more challenging.”
Positive rankings in these competitions also help with things such as employee recruitment and retention. On that front, Rupal says she finds there are more college and university graduates now applying for jobs with the company. “It validates that people can have a great career in the auto industry,” she says.
For more information visit: www.openroadautogroup.com
