At their February 10, 2022 meeting, CAWA's Manufacturers' Advisory Council (MAC) re-elected Gary Mercer of Continental Automotive Systems to Chair and Tony Wallerich of ZF Aftermarket as its Vice-Chair for the 2022 year. Both have served and contributed to the Association's leadership for many years. 

The MAC was formed to be an advisory body and provide a perspective to the Association from the manufacturing segment of the auto care industry. Their mission is to provide a manufacturer's perspective, knowledge and insight to assist CAWA in accomplishing its goals in protecting and promoting the industry.

The Association values the advice and counsel of the MAC and supports its operation as an integral part of CAWA. Their next meeting is in Redondo Beach, California on June 23, 2022. Industry colleagues are encouraged to attend and participate in the meeting.

For further information, contact programs@cawa.org or call 800.332.2292.

Recall, their charter is “to establish an eCommerce Task Force with representation from suppliers, distributors, retailers and solution providers to identify and solve business and technical challenges with the objective of enabling CAWA members to participate and flourish in the eCommerce channel”...

Should you have any questions about the meeting and its outcomes, please contact the Task Force Chair, Curt McDowell of the NA Williams Company at  cmcdowell@nawilliams.com or 951.234.9230.

CAWA thanks him for his work in establishing the Task Force and all its members for participation in this critical charter. See their presentation guide here. 

The Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) is working to develop the new Vehicle Safety Inspection Program established by Assembly Bill 471 and sponsored by CAWA. At a minimum, the new program will combine the current brake and lamp inspection programs into one program as soon as January 1, 2024.

CAWA, at the request of BAR, sent its members a questionnaire regarding:

As results of this survey is published by BAR, CAWA will alert its members. Thanks to all companies that responded to BAR.

~Autumn Lamb, GSP North America

Last month, the California Labor Commissioner published the mandatory posters concerning the 2022 COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave (CPSL) law—which took effect on February 19, 2022—that an employer must display in English and Spanish.

Further, and perhaps more important to employers struggling to interpret portions of the law, the Labor Commissioner also published FAQs. The FAQs clarify some new provisions in 2022 that did not exist under the 2021 or 2020 CPSL laws. For many employers, however, the FAQs do not answer some of their more burning questions—at least not yet.

The Labor Commissioner could release more FAQs throughout the year, as it did in prior years. Whether that will occur is not yet known. Learn more. Source: Littler

CAWA recognizes these members for their humanitarian aid to the people of Ukraine and applauds them for their efforts. We would like to recognize your company, as well. So, let us know of your humanitarian efforts to aid the people of Ukraine.

Effective March 1, 2022, there is no longer a hard requirement under the Cal/OSHA statewide Emergency Temporary Standard (CA ETS) or any other statewide requirement for employers to require unvaccinated persons (or fully vaccinated persons) to mask indoors at work.

Instead, the masking requirement applies only in specified settings such as healthcare, K-12 schools and childcare facilities, long-term care settings, and others.

There also is presently no such hard requirement applicable in most (but not all) local jurisdictions after March 1, as many local jurisdictions responded by aligning with the new statewide standards. Learn more. Source: Littler

Sales success simply boils down to talking to enough of the right people the right way. The right people are people who have a need or desire for what you have, they have the ability to make a decision on what you have, and they have the means to invest in what you have. Speaking to them the right way refers to saying the right things all the way through the sales process from getting and keeping their attention on the first call all the way through closing the sale. All of that said, here are four major roadblocks that prevent talking to enough of the right people the right way. See the four roadblocks here. Source: John Chapin

As vaccination rates rise and COVID-19 cases fall in the U.S., more employers are calling workers back to the office. There’s just one problem: many don’t want to return. A survey by management consulting firm McKinsey & Co. found only 37% of workers prefer a full-time return to on-site work at the office. 

That represents a steep drop from the pre-COVID-19 era, when 62% of workers preferred an on-site model. With 30% of employees surveyed saying they are likely to change jobs if required to return to the office on a permanent basis, return-to-work strategy has high stakes for businesses – particularly in the tight market for talent. Experts say businesses would be wise to take both legal and practical matters into consideration when crafting their plans. 

See further details here. Source: Sacramento Business Journal

The scholarship program supports educational opportunities for you, your colleagues, associates and your family, and those interested in a career in the auto care industry. Applying is easy!

The online application process allows students interested in auto care industry careers to submit one application each year online at www.automotivescholarships.com and receive consideration for several scholarships.

Applications for 2022 awards will be accepted up to March 31, 2022. APPLY HERE!

The automotive industry has rallied in 2021, growing year over year despite the COVID-challenged economy. Now automotive businesses can enhance their health plan benefits for their valued employees with the CAWA Arizona Health Trust (CAWA) Association Health Plan through Blue Cross® Blue Shield® of Arizona (BCBSAZ). For more details, click here. You could be saving your company many insurance premium dollars! Another member benefit.