Detore: Some best practices from top workplaces

It's really the basic tenet of human relationship: Recognizing another person.

Perhaps it's a smile or a nod of the head. Or maybe it's a hello and a how-are-you-doing salutation. Or it could be something more special, like remembering a birthday or anniversary.

In some instances, it could be a personalized phone call, a gift card, a hand-written message or simply an acknowledgment for a job well done.

In the day-to-day rat race that is the tire and automotive service industry, that simple mantra can get lost in the shuffle of supply difficulty, price hikes, labor shortages and prickly customers.

If there is one common denominator in the winner and five finalists of this year's Tire Business Best Places to Work competition, it is this: They put their people first.

Take Tire Group International L.L.C. (TGI), the winner of the survey, conducted by Tire Business in conjunction with Best Companies Group (BCG), an independent research firm specializing in identifying and recognizing great places to work.

The Miami-based wholesaler holds what it terms a "happiness campaign." Department heads award pins to employees for excellent customer service, special projects and for creating and promoting teamwork. Pins can be accumulated and redeemed for various gifts or time off.

In addition, each month TGI recognizes a company-wide team member, giving an award to an employee who demonstrates qualities such as outstanding and sustained performance of assigned duties and significant and positive impact with peers.

SimpleTire L.L.C., last year's winner and a finalist this year, reports that it gives out two monthly awards.

The first, the Innovator of the Month Award, is given to an employee who has submitted an idea for process improvement and business opportunity. The SimpleTire CEO and COO review the ideas and recognize an employee each month for his or her contribution.

The Trevose, Pa.-based online tire retailer also names a team member of the month. Employees are encouraged to nominate other team members across levels who have distinguished themselves either by actively demonstrating the company's corporate values or by significant cultural and business contribution and achievements.

Sometimes, the acknowledgment can be as simple as a phone call to recognize an employee's birthday or work anniversary.

At Phoenix-based Sun Auto Tire & Service Inc. — another finalist this year — employees receive a call from a member of their leadership team to recognize those life milestones. Or they may get a call of encouragement if they are going through a challenging time.

"It sounds very basic, but it's so important to people because it's their day," Carolyn Barnard, vice president of human resources, said. "It's not about how they did from a sales standpoint. It's looking at them as a human being."

SimpleTire creates what it calls "Kudo boards" to recognize employees who are celebrating significant work anniversaries or achievements.

And here's something even more impressive: Those boards have been used to recognize and thank employees who are leaving the organization to pursue career goals.

These employers also use another well-known path to keep employees happy: Through their stomaches.

All six of the businesses honored offer food and fellowship events throughout the course of the year.

Monteith's Best-One Tire & Auto Care, another finalist, hosts weekly Friday store lunches and monthly store dinners for outstanding sales achievements.

The Elkhart, Ind.-based dealership also holds quarterly managers meeting and group appreciation lunches.

Best-One of Indy combines both food and milestones: It holds celebratory lunches and gives out awards to employees marking a milestone year of service, starting at just five years.

At any given time, employees will find a Best-One of Indy store manager cooking out for employees.

"It's a great way for our team members to take a break and our managers to say thank you," Best-One said.

Best-One of Indy also holds random surprise ice cream days, when a manager or a leadership team member brings in ice cream for store employees.

Finalist MFA Oil/Big O Tires, out of Columbia, Mo., holds team lunches as well, while also hosting a Big O banquet that combines food and awards.

Of course, all the finalists hold a team-building activity: Monteith's Best-One takes employees to an escape room. SimpleTire has an employee-led and managed "fun" committee, which sponsors small- and large-scale events ranging from Super Bowl and Halloween parties to happy hours. Sun Auto rewards sales leaders with Top Golf outings.

TGI celebrates holidays in style: For example, every Halloween the company holds a costume contest; on Thanksgiving, there's a potluck meal; and the company designates several days during the Christmas season as dress-up days, leading up to a dinner, gift exchange, ugly sweater party and secret Santa events.

During the summer, TGI holds a company picnic where employees' families gather for food and fun at a local park.

SimpleTire, meanwhile, gives away company swag — T-shirts, sweatshirts, sweatpants, hats, towels, blankets, mugs, etc. — to new employees and twice a year to all employees.

These dealerships also say that they listen to employees, and more importantly, act on their suggestions.

Sun Auto, in fact, increased the number of paid holidays throughout the company. Those at the corporate office, in fact, received four additional paid holidays.

Communication is also key. SimpleTire said it "communicates directly and transparently," noting that its CEO hosts weekly meetings in which he discusses such topics as business financial results, performance, changes, new, hires and promotions.

Even before the pandemic-induced Great Resignation became a national issue, it was difficult to find and attract people to the tire and automotive service industry. Today, that challenge is made even more difficult.

Feel free to steal one of these ideas for your service shop.

There's never been a better time to keep good employees happy and engaged, and staying loyal to an employer.