Best Dealerships To Work For in Canada 2019

Location: Brampton, Ont. 

Dealer principal: Francesco A. Policaro

Dealership group: Policaro Group

Number of employees: 97

2018 new-vehicles sales: 695, no change

2018 used-vehicle sales: 372, up 18% 

General Manager Antonio Masciangelo on unusual methods developed to reward employees and show them they are valued: In order to reward and recognize our employees we like to talk about our “wins” in our weekly all-employee meetings. These are short meetings where we highlight employees and talk about everything that is happening in and around the dealership. Throughout many of our initiatives we have learned that it is less about financial rewards and more about recognition. 

Masciangelo on making work schedules more balanced or flexible than the bell-to-bell schedule for which dealerships are known: We offer later start times, staggered shifts, alternating Saturdays and lieu days. We understand that our employees have commitments outside of the dealership and we try to encourage a work/life balance as best we can while focusing on our dealership’s goals and objectives. 

Masciangelo on lessons learned from a hiring/employment mistake: Hiring a friend or relative of current employees. Typically this does not work well as there needs to be separation between work and personal life. We are fortunate enough to have access to a dedicated HR representative who has helped to show us best practices that we can incorporate into our hiring processes.