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Is a 4- Day Work Week Really an Option?

Joe Marconi

By Joe Marconi
in Running The Shop

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tomkatv10

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The consumer drives the market. People need their cars. So the shop has to be open at least five days a week. We are not open weekends, so the crew gets those two days to spend with family and friends. My crew likes to work. Most of them don’t take their full vacations or PTO. They would rather take the buyout at the end of the year. I think you need to know your people, your culture and most importantly your finances before making that type of decision. 

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JimO

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I own a gas station with service bays and we are open for gas/diesel seven days a week. For the first forty years we were in business our shop was open six days a week but ten years ago we reduced our shop hours to five days a week. We were very concerned that we would lose customers by closing our bays on Saturday’s but that failed to happen. Have we possibly lost some customers over the last ten years to other shops that are open on Saturday? I am sure we have. I am also sure that if our shop was open 364 days a year that we would lose some customer because we were closed that one day a year when he or she needed help. I have answered our phone on Labor Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July and Thanksgiving with requests for oil changes, tire repairs, brake work.... and had to explain to the caller that we are open for gas/diesel but closed for repairs. The caller was home, not at work, it is a holiday, they were aware it was a holiday and yet they expected me to say “sure, bring it over, I just need to call my family and tell them not to expect me home late for Thanksgiving dinner because you have been nursing a slow leak in your right front tire for the last two weeks but now, on Thanksgiving, you have decided that you need it repaired”.  I guess I am trying to say that it is impossible to satisfy the needs of all our customers 100% of the time, we will disappoint people. Life is short, our job is demanding, we are all all probably working too many hours, away from our family and loved ones. If you think your customer base will tolerate a four day work week - Go for it! Unfortunately I am old fashioned, I still worry about being closed for repairs on Saturdays so for right now I will continue with the five day work week.

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JimO Collaborator

JimO

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On 8/15/2022 at 7:53 AM, Joe Marconi said:

Wow, I can empathize and sympathize with you!

I grew up in the gas station business, and we worked every day, rain or shine. We had to be there. I tip my hat to you for putting things in perspective and having the guts to make changes that affect you and your employees' lives. 

AND I CAN RELATE TO YOUR STATEMENT, "I still worry about being closed for repairs on Saturdays..."  When I went into business, my father told me, "You will feel guilty when you take a Saturday off."

Funny how so many shop owners think and feel alike! 

 

Joe, I can relate to you statement “When I went into business, my father told me, "You will feel guilty when you take a Saturday off."

My father passed away years before I took the step to shut down service on Saturdays. A big hurdle for me was overcoming the thought of what my father would say to me if he was alive at that time. He was a machinist by trade and eventually managed large manufacturing factories for numerous companies unrelated to the automotive industry. From a very young age he instilled a work ethic that has served me well and I thank him for that. Maybe I am just older and  cynical but it seems that most of today’s young males fail to have that drive. The pandemic and paying people to stay home seemed to squash whatever small amount of work ethic that was left. I am sure there are young people in the work force with more drive than I can imagine but I routinely deal with young, male gas island attendants that can’t sleep at night so they look at their computers or play video games. They can’t work any mornings because they are unable to wake up since they go to bed at 3am or later. They don’t want to work Friday, Saturday, or Sunday because they want to go out at night with their friends. They don’t want to work more than 4-6 hours a day because they are tired. Many are taking some type of prescription medication for anxiety, depression or to help them sleep. Unfortunately this is becoming the norm for young men in my area and it worries me. 

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    • Joe Marconi
      The Toolbox is Last to Leave, First is the Heart
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      It always amazes me when I hear about a technician who quits one repair shop to go work at another shop for less money. I know you have heard of this too, and you’ve probably asked yourself, “Can this be true? And Why?” The answer rests within the culture of the company. More specifically, the boss, manager, or a toxic work environment literally pushed the technician out the door.
      While money and benefits tend to attract people to a company, it won’t keep them there. When a technician begins to look over the fence for greener grass, that is usually a sign that something is wrong within the workplace. It also means that his or her heart is probably already gone. If the issue is not resolved, no amount of money will keep that technician for the long term. The heart is always the first to leave. The last thing that leaves is the technician’s toolbox.
      Shop owners: Focus more on employee retention than acquisition. This is not to say that you should not be constantly recruiting. You should. What it does means is that once you hire someone, your job isn’t over, that’s when it begins. Get to know your technicians. Build strong relationships. Have frequent one-on-ones. Engage in meaningful conversation. Find what truly motivates your technicians. You may be surprised that while money is a motivator, it’s usually not the prime motivator.
      One last thing; the cost of technician turnover can be financially devastating. It also affects shop morale. Do all you can to create a workplace where technicians feel they are respected, recognized, and know that their work contributes to the overall success of the company. This will lead to improved morale and team spirit. Remember, when you see a technician’s toolbox rolling out of the bay on its way to another shop, the heart was most likely gone long before that.

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