Workforce Management for Auto Dealers: Complexity is an Understatement
Workforce management and employee compliance can be tricky, complex and challenging for many auto dealers, but they’re definitely not to be ignored. The phrase, “it’s complicated” commonly comes to mind. And frankly, it is. Every single dealership faces the challenges of complexity when it comes to workforce compliance management.
Your workforce is made up of employees, contractors and third-party partners. They weave an intricate web of “workforce management risk exposure” that requires constant attention and oversight in order to protect your business.
To responsibly manage all of your auto dealer compliance obligations, we recommend you consider the following five factors to help assess your level of complexity and potential exposure.
Workforce Management: Five Factors of Complexity
A workforce stretching across multiple roof tops.
Auto dealers are commonly faced with multiple roof tops and locations across various states. Jurisdictional issues come into play here. Different states have their own employment laws—each with their own reporting requirements for your workforce.
Dealerships are forced to be dynamic and continually adapt.
Does your dealership organization have to constantly change to meet regulatory and market demands? This might include introducing a new product line, launching new services, or understanding a new regulation that impacts your dealership organization. Changes in your business often require new internal policy and procedures to keep pace.
Fluctuating employment and changing responsibilities.
Do you experience high turnover? Does your business operate seasonally? Are you growing rapidly? Perhaps job responsibilities are changing, even if roles aren’t. Improperly trained or uncertified members of your workforce may be performing tasks outside of their scope of responsibility, potentially exposing your dealership to a variety of risks. Ensuring the right training and information gets to the right person at the right time is essential.
Managing outside relationships that can impact your dealership.
Do you hire contractors or regularly have third parties onsite? Do these individuals have access to proprietary information or corporate systems? Third parties are notorious for innocently introducing fraud, theft, or corruption into a system. Plus, they are often subject to the same codes of conduct and operational policies as traditional employees. These extended members of your auto dealer workforce need your attention, too.
Accepting and adapting to technology challenges.
How is your dealership responding to changes in processes resulting from new technology? For instance, switching to automated business systems or requiring your workforce to follow more stringent security procedures can cause disruption. How are you managing common technology trends, such as Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) or using social media in the workplace? Evaluate whether or not your compliance programs are keeping pace.
There’s no reason to make your workforce management harder on yourself, your human resources department, or your dealership’s pocket book. The success of your business depends on a well-structured workforce compliance management and communications program. Companies who use an automated compliance management systems (CMS) are setting themselves up for success – not failure.
