Dealer: Dustin Walters

Dealership group: Friendship Family of Dealerships

Full-time employees: 47

General Manager Kris Childs on lessons from the pandemic about being a better employer:
“We have always been a dealership that strives to have patience when things may come up with a team member’s personal life, but this pandemic has made us even more aware that anything can happen. We are more patient and understanding these days.”

Childs on evolving compensation structure in the COVID era:
“We are very thankful in this area because we have been able to maintain each team member’s compensation and have not had to reduce it due to COVID.”

Childs on how the accelerated shift to digital retail changed staffing strategy:
“We have added extra training. We can do a sale completely online without the customer ever having to come into the store. Our salespeople have stepped up their game in providing video walk-arounds.”

Walters on making work schedules more balanced or flexible:
“We offer our team members the option of a four-day workweek For some people, this is better for their families, especially during this pandemic. We also have the option of team schedules.”