b"34 Business Advancement Auto Recyclers ToolBoxOvercoming ObstaclesA series highlighting regular people in our industry who overcame obstaclesTheresa ColbertW hen I first decided to write this series about overcoming obstacles, I did not foresee COVID-19 disrupting our entire lives. I thought I would interview yard owners and we would see how natural disasters, technology, or even family relationships have changed the way they run a yard. I have heard a lot of interesting stories over the years and wanted to share them with you. Fast forward to March 2020I have heard stories of employeesto handle the tasks they are to and life as we know it has changed! Igoing to the boss and saying, Hey, whyundertake in case we have to have been talking to yard owners,dont you cut my pay in half for aresort to this. Stressed the employees and other vendors for the pastcouple weeks so you have enough toimportance of forwarding few weeks and have decided to focus thispay everyone else. What great leadersour business even while in article on what I see right now in ourwe have in our world to have anquarantine and thatthis is not auto recycling world. employee say this! It literally broughtvacation time.tears to my eyes!4: Sat down with each employee We are not alone in this one by one to ensure they really Ive seen a lot more recyclerswere personally prepared. reaching out to others for help andIn our industry weSeveral somehow were advice. People are realizing we are notshare with each other inoverlooking crucial supplies to alone in this. They are working together,have on hand for their families. sharing ideas on Facebook, via email/textthe hope that we will all5: Conducted several firearms or with phone calls! We are an amazingbe better recyclers.safety classes on site to brush industry that is, in my humble opinion,up on safety, defense, and second to none! I am not saying othermarksmanship. Additionally, industries are not out there helping theARA has been very proactive byensured adequate ammunition world. I just think other industries donthosting informative webinars andsupply in homes. Hope it share secrets to help someone else insending links regarding Small Businessdoesn't get anywhere near this the same industry. I have always said,Association guidelines and Paycheckbad; however, they will be Burger King cant walk across the streetProtection programs.prepared in worse case to ask for McDonalds secret saucescenarios. recipe. In our industry, we share withCaleb at Heritage Auto in6: Double verified employees' each other in the hope that we will all beAlabama posted this on theemergency contacts, phone, and better recyclers. All that being said, Irecyclers forum. So thoughtful ofany medical they wanted us to have some stories to share that I havehim! be aware of. It's amazing how found encouraging in these past few**Update on a few more additionalmany are constantly changing weeks.things we are doing: their numbers. 1: Added extra shifts working in COVID-19 Relief Initiativesrotation to limit group size inIn closingI was in a meeting at Car-Part thesame areas. Zones are sanitizedI just want to say how thankful I am other day when Roger Schroder said,prior to next shift. to have all of my recycling family in my Although we normally have over half2:We ran double payroll this weeklife! You are all out there working and our employees working remotely, we stillin order to ensure employeestrying to keep your families and had over 90 people converted to workhad adequate cash on hand.employees safe. You are all my heroes! from home in less than a week thatDid estimated hours. We areAs always, feel free to text me, call me, normally dont work from home. Thejust trusting employees will notor email me! logistics of this astound me! Car-Part hasabuse our generosity.already announced it is not reducing its3: Gave contingency jobs to 30%Theresa Colbertworkforce at this time. Theyve alsoof the staff. Tasks they canTheresaC@Car-Part.comannounced COVID-19 Relief Initiativeshandle from home. Made sureor call/text my cell at for their customers, including 10% offthey had remote me in859-802-2382recycler services for 3 months as a reliefsoftware working from their package. side and knew specifically how"