Mazda 2-20 Ile-Perrot: A Canadian award as an employer

Mazda 2-20 Ile-Perrot is recognized as an employer of choice across Canada, reaching the top 25 best car dealerships to work for in the country. It is with pride that management and employees heard the news in early November.

The Best Dealership to Work For Award for 2019 is offered by the popular Automotive News Canada and Best Companies Group. The competition of the best dealership employers was this year in its second edition. The objective of this competition is to highlight innovative practices and unique initiatives implemented in the automotive field to create stimulating workplaces and thereby contribute to the retention of the workforce in a competitive market.

« The winners of this year’s Best Dealership To Work For in Canada are successful in creating and sustaining those environments where employees love to come to work and love to engage with the customers », wrote Peter Burke of the Best Companies Group in the October 2019 edition of Automotive News Canada which presents a portrait of each of the winners.

After a 6-month process of evaluating many of the selection criteria, the judging panel selected 25 dealers across Canada who stand out for their approach as employers. From this number, there is Mazda 2-20 Ile-Perrot. Canada's only Mazda dealership on this prestigious list.

Create an ideal working atmosphere

The Best Dealership To Work For Award confirms that the efforts put in place by Mazda 2-20 Ile-Perrot to equip employees and provide them with a pleasant living environment are recognized and appreciated by members of the team, all departments combined.

To attract skilled labor and maintain one of the lowest employee turnover rates in the automotive industry, Mazda 2-20 Ile-Perrot strives to create a respectful work environment, positive experience and self-realization. This translates, among other things, into training and advancement opportunities.

«Recruiting younger human resources requires creating an atmosphere of employee engagement, skills development and flexible workplace policies. The work environment has to be fulfilling and developmental if we are to recruit and retain talent. We place an emphasis on training, personal planning skills, technical skills, software utilization skills. We also promote within and have regular one-on-one personal feedback sessions», shared Francois Gaumont, co-owner and director of the dealership.

Management attaches particular importance to creating an environment conducive to work-family balance, and guides its policies by drawing on these values.

A wave of recognition

Employees of Mazda 2-20 Ile-Perrot were gathered at a festive dinner in early November to learn the news of the award. They warmly welcomed the announcement and expressed their pride in being part of the team.

"Providing the best service is at the heart of the Mazda 2-20 business philosophy and Groupe AutoForce. And to ensure outstanding service, employees must be happy and proud to represent their dealership. This prize is the accomplishment of all that. I am so proud to see that we stand out across Canada. Our employees are our primary resource. This prize is theirs", says François Gaumont.

"It's probably the price I'm most proud of, because it's impossible to get there without the team standing out on many levels. This award demonstrates the excellence of the company that is accomplished in a work environment that employees value. In turn, this positive environment fosters the dedication of employees that is subsequently felt by all our customers. This influence helps the company continue to recruit excellent employees", added André Gingras, president of Groupe AutoForce, of which Mazda 2-20 Ile-Perrot is a member. Moreover, of the four Quebec concessions that are on the final list, two are part of Groupe AutoForce.

Alain Juteau is a mechanic and team leader at Mazda 2-20 Ile-Perrot for 22 years now. He wanted to share his commitment to his workplace during the announcement. " I love my work. I get up every morning with pleasure to come to work. The pride expressed by the management is shared by the entire team. This award is well deserved", he said.