BEST DEALERSHIPS TO WORK FOR IN CANADA 2018

Location: Vaughan, Ont.

Dealer principal: Remo Ferri

Dealership group: R.Ferri Automotive

Number of employees: 104

2017 new-vehicle sales: 1154, down 23.4%

2017 used-vehicle sales: 564, up 16.7%

Vice-President of Operations Susan Ferri on staff diversification and attracting women to the workplace: We currently assess our market demographics to ensure that our staffing requirements fit the needs of the diversity in our market area. We also go as far to ensure that our multilingual staff are available for either service, parts or sales clientele. We are an equal-opportunity employer, and we often support causes that resonate with female applicants, like breast cancer awareness campaigns.

Ferri on making work schedules more balanced or flexible than the bell-to-bell schedule for which dealerships are known: We don't believe in working bell-to-bell as a regular schedule. Work-life balance is exceptionally important and promoted with our team members. We try to refrain from excessive overtime to ensure that we are practising what we preach. Schedules are often re-visited by senior management to ensure a 40-44 hour work week.

Ferri on the challenges of hiring/retention in the face of dramatic changes in technology and competition for skilled staff: We advertise all our benefits and perks when we post ads. We have also pay signing bonuses to licensed technicians, depending on their level of Manufacture Certification Training. Currently we are working with local trade schools and colleges to ensure that we recruit the best. We hold an annual job fair for our dealer group and are upgrading our mentorship/apprentice training program.

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