Rewarding hard work: Meals, trips, nights on the town and more

Stores up and down the 2022 Best Dealerships To Work For list have established ways to reward their employees for their hard work and build camaraderie in the process.

Hungry? Some opt for a food-based approach. Store leaders bring in food trucks to supply lunch or buy supplies for on-site picnics or barbecues.

"I'll roll out the flat top and cook breakfast for the dealership, call in food trucks to celebrate an achieved goal or set up an off-site event," said Nate Riesen, general manager of Lexus of Madison in Middleton, Wis.

Rewards can get more elaborate from there. Some store leaders plan off-site events, giving employees time to bond beyond the work environment.

BMW North Scottsdale in Phoenix, for instance, hosts workers at sporting events so they can accommodate more people, said Steven Khouri, the dealership's general manager. Jaguar-Land Rover North Dade in North Miami, Fla., offers free tickets to games and jazz concerts, according to Kareena Diaz, the store's human resources manager.

Other dealerships on the list reported sending employees on wellness trips, getaways and to automakers' special events as representatives.

"Rewarding folks with trips and gifts is another way to show our appreciation for them," said John Margaritis, managing partner of Garber Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram in Saginaw, Mich.

It's important to also plan events that employees' family members can attend, several dealership leaders said. Toyota of Bedford in Ohio holds evenings "out on the town" with employees and their loved ones, said Mike Press, the store's general manager. And Patriot Subaru of North Attleboro in Massachusetts holds an annual holiday party off-site for employees and their spouses or significant others, according to Mark Perryman, the store's managing partner.

The staff at Scottsdale Ferrari-Maserati in Phoenix likes to have fun, said Operations Manager Renee Banashak. The dealership provides ice cream and food truck lunches on-site, holds an annual bowling night and plans an end-of-the-year celebration, usually at a different venue with different activities each time, she said.

"Our wish is to create a positive work force where everyone is aware of the importance of team and camaraderie," Banashak said.