Major Tech Mistakes

[PROUSER]

Thanks to those of you who instead of just assuming the employee was in the wrong, suggested working with the employee to resolve the problem. For those of you who wanted to discipline the employee without even discussing it with him -SHAME ON YOU!
Auto techs are people and deserve the same respect and treatment you would give any employee.
As a former master tech I came late (5-10 min) 2 or 3 times one week -helping my mother who had been sick. I too was getting over the flu (never called off) and I was immediately summoned to the GM's office. Without asking why he proceeded to tear me a new one. When I went back to the svc dept the Service mgr called me into his office. I explained to him why I was late and it was not a big deal for him but I almost fell over when he told me the GM just called him asking if he knew I had a drinking problem because he could smell liquor on my breath. While I respected the GM prior to this he could not have been more wrong. He never asked why I was late, and the liquor he smelled (I have never been much of a drinker -and certainly not before work) was the prescription cough medicine I was taking which had 2% alchohol content. I guess what I am saying is stop and think for a minute first and then treat your employees the same way you would want to be treated yourself.

[Lhansen]

One thought that I didn't see posted here. If this technician is the best or one of the best you have, is he the "go to guy"? If you have some of the other techs going to him for assistance and advice, interrupting his routine, this could account for some of the errors. I have often seen "errors" caused by unscheduled interruptions that lead to picking up the job a step or two ahead of where the tech left off.
Just a thought.
I certainly agree that this is a situation where coaching and counseling need to be done. It's so difficult to find an excellent tech (who wants to make a move) that I always encourage trying to save your good employees.

Good luck!

Linda

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Linda Graham Hansen
Auto Dealer Focus
www.autodealerfocus.com

[chevytech]

Hey zekensted. any update on the problem? Please reply because I am curious and the end of the year is getting close.