Several years ago Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes helped sit a committee of owners and repairers with ABRN to discuss the challenges shops faced with hiring new employees. Of particular concern was the shortage of young people interested in joining the industry.
Some of the repairers noted that youthful hires frequently left after accepting a shop position. Reasons for these early exits varied but typically they were linked to a reluctance to accept the level of commitment and willingness to perform physically tasking working necessary in the collision industry. Hires who stayed on often requested to be transferred to mechanical repairs.
“They're so used to being on the computer and their smartphones they lose interest in jobs where they're not going to be on them a lot,” said one repairer.
This is bad news for an industry in need of qualified workers, especially those willing to stay with a shop for the long run and build its business. If repairers can't count on youngsters to fill their staffing needs, where can they look?
The answer might be no farther than your local military base or neighborhood. More than one million members of the military are slated to enter civilian ranks in the next several years. Those who have left the service recently already are proving themselves to be terrific additions to the industry.
These workers bring with them an appreciation for loyalty, hard work and dedication. As part of their service, many have received management, logistic and automotive training they can now offer your business.
If that wasn't enough, a number of programs run by the government and private industry can help you locate and train this growing pool of talented workers. Let's take a look at how you can leverage these services and bring these heroes on board at your business.
Aid from Uncle Sam
No doubt many shops have run Help Wanted ads in local newspapers and websites like Craigslist.com or Monster.com. If you're looking to attract veterans, there are better places to go.
One is the website for the National Resource Directory, www.nrd.gov, a job bank run by the U.S Dept. of Labor specifically for veterans (and their families) where employers can post jobs at no cost. The website www.vetsuccess.gov, run by the U.S. Dept. of Veteran Affairs, similarly lets employers post jobs for free and allows them to search resumes posted by veterans.
Employers also can turn to online hiring centers for veterans for more comprehensive recruitment and hiring assistance. These centers include the American Job Centers (see www.careeronestop.org), which features a number of resources to help business hire and train veterans – including directions on creating an effective job posting and help in determining what military jobs best translate into collision repair work. The Hero 2 Hired website (www.h2h.jobs) provides access to work profiles of vets who have passed security and background checks.
At the local level, shops can post jobs on state job boards and at each state's Director for Veterans' Employment and Training Services office (available at www.dol.gov/vets/Employment/).
Federal and state governments also provide considerable financial help for the hiring and training of vets. Shops who hire veterans can qualify for the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC), which can save them from $1,200 to $9,600 annually in employee pay.
Those savings are based on a formula in which the more an employee works the greater the savings for the shop. If the employee works at least 120 hours, the shop can claim a tax credit equal to 25 percent of the workers first year wages, up to the maximum tax credit. If the employee works at least 400 hours, the shop can claim a credit equal to 40 percent of the first year wages, up to the $9,600 maximum.
States offer separate programs that can complement these savings. For example, Arkansas runs a program that pays up to $1000 for the training of a veteran. Check with your state's department of veteran affairs or employment agency to find what each offers.
Utilizing any of these programs will involve some government oversight, which means you'll be filling out paperwork and adhering to some new regulations, but former shop owner and industry consultant Ben Bailey says these factors shouldn't deter shops.
“It's a lot easier than you'd think,” he says. “Start by contacting your local veteran assistance groups and go from there. There's plenty of help for shops.”
Bailey also says shops should look into hiring disabled veterans. He notes that there are additional programs available to help bring these veterans aboard. He also stresses that “disabled” doesn't mean these potential employees can't contribute to a repair business, even in physically demanding roles.
He works with shops in North Carolina and Virginia, near a number of military bases, and says injured veterans can work in practically any part of a shop's operation. “All a shop has to do is ask one of these vets what he can and can't do for a particular job,” he says. “A missing or injured arm or leg or even a worse injury won't affect most of these folks' ability to contribute.”
Bailey also notes that in every case he's seen shops have been satisfied with veteran hires.
“Usually they rave about what a great employee they've got,” he adds. “Having a true hero at your business is a just one more bonus.”
Industry aid
Along with governmental help, the collision industry has stepped up to help bring more veterans into shops. 3M Automotive Market is using sales of some of its most popular products to fund its Hire Our Heroes program, a part of a nationwide effort directed bu the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. This year, the company hopes to raise $250,000 for veteran charities, including the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF).
3M is making available grants for returning veterans and family members to be used for tuition, school fees, tools, textbooks and equipment at qualifying technical schools.
Last year, the program helped 60 applicants pay for their education, including Air Force veteran Marco Salinas who declared, “The tool grant helped me keep on striving to be the best.”
The program is expanding this year to include creating a job matching service to help graduates of the collision repair programs connect with auto shops looking for skilled, qualified employees.
That will help shops recruit grant recipients like Air Force veteran Kevin Young who received $2500 to purchase tools at Cape Fear Community College in Burgaw, N.C. Young, said that automotive work seemed like a natural choice because something it’s he has been interested in for years and the jobs are in high demand.
"A lot of guys struggle in school because they also have to make money to buy their tools," Young says. "For me, the grant has been a real blessing."
3M also helped bring attention to the program and the benefits of hiring vets with a contest in which shop owners nominated their military veteran employees for excellence in the workplace. Winners, both owners and employees, received a trip in November to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. While there, they watched the pre-race ceremonies from pit road. They also took turn riding in the race pace car and attended a meeting with the drivers, along with other activities.
Jerry Patterson, one of the winning military veterans and an employee an C&P Body Shop In Henserson, NC, declared, “I have been in the industry for 42 years and this is one of the highlights.”
“It gave us an opportunity as vets to sit down and talk about our experiences,” he added.
That experience, along with the other benefits that come with hiring a vet, are things every shop looking for great workers should keep in mind.
Hiring resources
3M Hire Our Heroes program – www.3mcollision.com/hire-our-heroes
Collision Repair Education Foundation - www.collisionrepaireducationfoundation.org
Hiring and retention toolkit – www.americasheroesatwork.gov
Employer compliance - http://www.dol.gov/compliance/topics/hiring-vets.htm
Interview tips
Interviewing a veteran for a shop position typically is no different than interviewing other candidates. There are, however, exceptions. Federal law prohibits employers from asking certain questions. These include:
- "What type of discharge were you granted?" Only federal agencies (those that assign a Veterans' hiring preference or have requirements related to security clearances) can ask questions related to military discharge.
- "You're presently in the Reserves. Could you be called up to active duty this year?" It is unlawful to discriminate against someone because of membership in the Reserves, National Guard or a state defense force.
- "Did you see any action in Iraq?" "Are you receiving any treatments for injuries?" Questions related to deployments in Afghanistan or Iraq might be interpreted as attempts to determine if a veteran has Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or Traumatic Brain Injury. This could be construed as a violation of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) or the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Consider asking questions that will let you and the veteran know if a position will be the right “fit” for both of you. For example, ask the following:
- "You've read the job description. Can you, with or without a reasonable accommodation, perform the essential functions for the job?" Note that you're not asking the veteran to disclose any disabilities. You're ensuring that this candidate can perform the essential functions of the job.
- "Tell me about the type of training and education you received while in the military." Consider how this will relate to work at your business.
- "Were you involved in day-to-day management of personnel and/or supplies? How many people did you supervise? What was the net worth of these resources?" Again, consider how this experience will translate into duties at your shop.
One more tip – don't hesitate to thank veteran candidates for their service to their country.
Spotlight on veterans
What can a veteran bring to your business? Consider what these owners and managers are saying about their experiences:
Alpine CARSTAR Auto Body, Aurora, CO
Military Veteran: Steven Burr, U.S. Army, now a mechanic/DFR technician
Owner: Gary Boesel
“Burr has been employed at Alpine CARSTAR for 11 years. During that time he has shown the dedication and team member skills that were woven into him during his tenure in the Army as an infantry soldier. His military background shaped him to be respectful and honorable, as well as the importance of accountability. His coworkers know that they can count on him to step up when needed with his 'I got your back' mentality.”
Riverdale Body Shop, Chicago, IL
Military Veteran: Sergio Barbosa, U.S. Marine Corps, now a painter
Shop Manager: Brian Bussey
“Describing Sergio Barbosa personally is hard because there is so much to say about an individual with so much pride and integrity. Barbosa is a dependable, dedicated, and respectable person. He's always there to help a friend/coworker with things they maybe struggling with in their personal and work life. Professionally, he has the eye for detail and the ability to handle any task with grace. He's a hard worker.”
Fix Auto of Yorba Linda, Yorba Linda, CA
Military Veteran: Brian Price, U.S. Navy, now an estimator and shop assistant
Shop Owner: David Caufield
“Price always has a positive, leadership attitude. Whether early or late in the day, he is always ready and willing to help out others, which helps make life here a lot easier. Fix Auto of Yorba Linda is very lucky to have a veteran like Brian Price working at our shop.”
Rudy’s Truck and Trailer, Bailey, NC
Military Veteran: Joshua Pearson, U.S Army National Guard, now a parts salesman
Shop Owner: Amy Pearson
“Pearson was deployed to Kuwait in May 2012 leaving a four-month old little girl and wife behind. He returned home Easter weekend of this past year. He never skipped a beat and was in at 7 a.m. to open on Tuesday immediately following his return.”
Brandywine Coachworks, Exton, PA
Military Veteran: Tim Heiser, U.S. Marine Corps, now specializing in paint preparation
Shop Manager: Jim Gallagher
“Tim Heiser represents the best aspects of the military in both his personal and professional life.
Whatever Heiser does, he pours his heart, his soul and his pride into. The experience and tools that he gained from military service have really helped him to exceed in civilian life. He is conscientious, kind and always there to help when needed. He truly takes the Marine’s ideal of “Semper fi” to heart – always faithful.”
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