The Association’s annual dinner gala, once again sponsored exclusively by Motorcar Parts of America, will be held at the Venetian Hotel on Sunday night October 30, 2022. The event “kicks-off” Industry Week in Las Vegas. This is the primary event that raises money for CAWA’s scholarship programs and starts the week off with entertainment, an auction and recognition of the Association’s leadership. Click here for registration materials.

The Federal Maritime Commission has established a webpage dedicated to its actions and activities related to the implementation of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 (OSRA). These pages provide links to key OSRA documents including rulemakings, Industry Advisories, and press releases. Source: Federal Maritime Commission

Randall Swedlove of Morris Automotive Supply, a former CAWA Board of Director’s member, presented two scholarship applicants with their awards at his place of business.

When I started my sales training business I used to speak to some sales groups for free. Two days before one of those speeches I got an e-mail from the sales manager saying that the salespeople wanted to spend the time in their next sales meeting learning how to use a new software program versus listening to a speaker. She said the new software program promised to double, triple, or even quadruple their current sales. I had a similar experience while cold calling when a sales manager told me that he was holding off on sales training because they had just put a new CRM in place and were beginning a new marketing campaign. Recently I got an e-mail saying, “Use the latest OGM Approach to recession-proof your sales team”. Read more here. Source: John Chapin

“CAWA is on the frontline of everything that happens in auto care. When you realize how proactively CAWA supports and fights for all segments of our industry, it is hard not to participate.”

~ Young Suhr, Jr., APW Knox-Seeman Warehouse, Inc.

Last month, the U.S. Senate approved budget reconciliation legislation on a party-line vote. The legislation, which passed 51–50 (with Vice President Harris providing the tiebreaking vote), was the product of months of negotiations between Democratic senators following the unveiling last year of the larger, more expansive Build Back Better agenda. The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) opposed the budget reconciliation bill, which includes tax increases on manufacturers and price-setting measures that will impact pharmaceutical manufacturers’ ability to innovate. Read NAM’s analysis here. Source: National Association of Manufacturers

Enterprise cybersecurity attacks tend to grab headlines. When prominent companies with household names and large investor bases are publicly bilked out of hundreds of millions of dollars, it’s not surprising that people notice. Meanwhile, attacks on small businesses often fly under the radar—but they, too, are on the rise. Recent data indicates that more than a quarter of security breaches involve small-business victims. These breaches can be financially and reputationally disastrous, with 60% of hacked small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) going out of business within six months. Read more here. Source: Forbes

We ran a criminal background check on a prospective new employee and the check revealed some criminal history. Can we choose to revoke the job offer now? Over the past several years, both the California Legislature and the California Civil Rights Council (formerly known as the Fair Employment and Housing Council) have placed an increased focus on an employer’s ability to revoke job offers due to a prospective employee’s criminal history. See details here. Source: Our Friends at the California Chamber of Commerce

Please consider and reflect on the following questions and probe: Has loyalty in life and in business become a lost art? Is loyalty a word and concept that is valued and nurtured in our busy world and organizations? Employees today seek loyalty and are less likely to tolerate an insincere and ineffective leader. They put a very high premium on true loyalty and authenticity.

Indeed, loyalty is a commitment to continue buying a product or service, whatever the circumstances. Does your brand strategy involve customer loyalty? Also, do you view loyalty as a value and a benefit? Loyalty is not a soft skill, it requires the highest degree of commitment, corporate character, and integrity. In fact, loyalty is a strategy, which is linked decisions, that affect both employees and customers. See more here. Source: Dr. John A Passante, The Organizational Development Group, Inc.

Tom Skov of Genuine Parts Company - NAPA, a current CAWA Board of Director’s member, presented a scholarship award at his place of business.

The latest wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has barely been contained, yet employers are now being hit with employee inquiries related to monkeypox. As this virus spreads, states and localities are declaring emergencies while employers are struggling to determine how to respond to this new challenge, including what steps they should take to protect their employees in the face of potential outbreaks. Learn More. Source: Littler

We are having an offsite company barbecue this summer. What should I consider before hosting this event?

Employer-sponsored social events are a great way to boost morale and help employees bond. Before firing up the grill, however, you should consider some important legal concepts. You should first decide whether this barbecue will be mandatory or voluntary. If you are holding the event during regular work hours, or if the event includes work-related meetings, the barbecue will likely be viewed as mandatory. For mandatory events, you must not only pay employees for their time attending the event, but you also must provide uninterrupted and compliant breaks. These meal and rest breaks must allow employees to leave the event premises if they so wish. Failure to provide meal and rest breaks could expose you to penalties. Read more here. Source: Our Friends at the California Chamber of Commerce. 

See the enclosed informational piece (here) from our California based partner, Armstrong & Associates. Contact Glen Dailey at 800.632.2777 or gdailey@armstrongprofessional.com.

Tell your company’s HR Department (or the person in charge of hiring your associates) that CAWA has an industry specific job board. We created the job board and participate in conjunction with the Auto Care Association, MEMA, SEMA and ASA to name a few national associations. So, your job opening would be viewed by a great number of candidates given the exposure, though not only CAWA distribution, but the other industry association’s communications vehicles, as well.

See https://www.cawa.org/Jobs for details.