Tommy Baker, owner of Baker Motor Co. of Charleston, says his formula for success and keeping employees happy and productive is very simple.
"I tell my people, 'You take care of the client, so I take care of you.'"
Baker said that also means "we have the best working conditions."
Baker Motor Co. of Charleston comprises Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Infiniti, Jaguar, Land Rover, Maserati, Rolls-Royce, Smart and Sprinter franchises. The Baker Motor Co. group also includes Buick, GMC and Cadillac franchises in Charleston, S.C.
Baker Motor Co. of Charleston, with 130 full-time employees, is No. 1 among large dealerships -- those with 100 or more employees -- on this year's list of the 100 Best Dealerships To Work For.
And it is No. 1 overall.
Groups of employees throughout the company meet regularly to discuss their needs. They pass the ideas along to management, and Baker tries to implement them.
Saturday work schedules are massaged to allow employees time for activities such as coaching children's sports teams or attending a family event, Baker said.
With weekday schedules also, "we try to be flexible. Some come in earlier and some later and stay later," Baker said. "You try to be flexible so they can enjoy their life other than the 9-to-5 stuff."
Salespeople who meet their monthly quatas get to set their own work schedules.