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In a special preview for our CMG Premium subscribers, Auto Remarketing is offering an early look at the data and insights from our Best Auto Auctions to Work For program for 2020. The full study and feature story will be available in the November issue of the magazine. 

But for a sneak peek at the Best Auto Auctions to Work For issue, see Part I of our preview below.

Part I 

The Employment Benchmark Report compiled by the Best Companies Group as part of Auto Remarketing’s “Best Auto Auctions to Work For” program contains eight categories of metrics by which employers are rated by their respective employees.

The two categories where this year’s group of Best Auto Auctions to Work For honorees had the strongest scores?

“Relationship with Supervisor” and “Overall Employee Engagement.”

In each of these categories, an average of 92% of the responses were positive.

Bearing that in mind, we asked this year’s honorees, via emailed Q&As, to share ways their organization fosters positive professional relationships between supervisors and employee, as well as how they engage employees. More on that below in this feature story.

First, some background on the program: Auto Remarketing’s Best Auctions to Work For, presented by CARS Recon, is a free workplace study for the auto-auction industry that recognizes the best auto auctions to work for on an unranked basis.

It is designed and intended for individual physical auction locations and digital auctions, as well.

Digital auction honorees are designated as such. It is absolutely free for both physical and digital auctions to participate.

Auto Remarketing, teaming with the Best Companies Group (BCG) in Pennsylvania, underwrites the study. The study is managed by BCG, and the data is analyzed 100% by the staff at BCG. Best Companies Group directly administers all surveys and manages and analyzes all data and information that is gathered.

The Best Companies Group assesses the data from the group of auctions choosing to participate and develops metrics and standards based on that data to determine which auctions are named to the list of Best Auto Auctions to Work For.

Feedback & engagement

At IAA, which had four of its locations make the list, president and chief executive officer John Kett said one resource his company has leaned on is its IAA Ambassador Program.

“This program fosters growth, development and engagement of IAA yard attendants, customer service representatives and title specialists. We pair a seasoned peer with a new hire for a minimum of 90 days,” Kett said.

“We’ve seen great success and improved traction with our new employees.  It provides them with support and guidance as they get familiar with IAA and their new role,” he said.

At ACV Auctions, the company has taken a “You asked. We listened” approach, says chief sales officer Michael Waterman.

“Given our background as a start-up, our teammates’ feedback has been extremely important to the growth of our company and to our culture. Many of our leading procedures and policies are in direct response to feedback that we have received from our team members,” Waterman said. “They know that they can speak up and share their thoughts and they will be heard. ACV is a company without ego. We love great ideas/feedback and take it from our team members and customers alike. This feedback makes us better and more relevant every day.”

ACV also fosters engagement by encouraging employees to learn what they’re passionate about and leaning into that. Waterman gave the example of the company’s diversity and inclusion program, which was launched by a senior employee in the training department who has a passion for such initiatives.

“We also support our teammates in philanthropic efforts that impact them personally or impact the region where they work. We support these team members as they offer charitable assistance across the country to regions impacted by natural disasters and other efforts to help those in need,” Waterman said.

“COVID-19 has significantly impacted how we can interact with our corporate teammates who are used to seeing one another daily in the office. ACV quickly pivoted to a mostly remote model for our corporate workforce in order to protect their personal health and safety as a result of the pandemic,” he said.  “We pushed through to find new ways to connect, engage and have fun. Various departments have virtual, Zoom-powered happy hours and play games via Jackbox.

“The ACV HR department also started a monthly all-company Trivia Night on Wednesdays to bring everyone back together. We now also offer team members free access to online Yoga and Meditation sessions (exclusively for ACV team members) throughout the week to help relieve any added stress that team members may be carrying due to the intensity of our ‘new normal.’”

Over at Louisiana’s 1st Choice Auto Auction, auction manager Matt Alombro also pointed out the challenge that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought in the area of employee engagement and how his auction has successfully adapted.

“Like many others we had to announce employee furloughs for an unknown length of time. Through the first 5-6 weeks, every manager was on the lot moving cars, taking pictures, detailing cars and anything else that needed to be done to continue having a weekly auction,” Alombro said.

“Everything was completed by only about 15 people. This was truly a humbling experience. When our team started to come back 6-8 weeks later, we were still out there with them and getting the job done. For months, we remained with a limited team, and through that time, many close friendships formed,” he said.

“It was a new level of respect for the team tasked with completion, as well as the supervisors and managers who were willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen. That bond made for great ideas and open communication to only further improve the fantastic team we have here at Louisiana’s 1st Choice Auto Auction.”

Part II of the feature can be found here.

A full list of the 2020 honorees can be found here.