How Do I Know When It’s the Right Time to Terminate a Technician?

A Guide for Auto Repair Shop Owners

As an Auto Repair Shop Owner, one of the hardest parts of leadership isn’t fixing cars — it’s handling people.

In this Owner Optional Q&A episode, we dive into a situation many shop owners never talk about out loud:

How do you know when it’s time to terminate a technician?

This isn’t a math problem or a textbook case.

This is real life: loyal employees, long relationships, and gut-check decisions that impact your shop culture, customer experience, and your own freedom.

If you’re an Auto Shop Owner in Massachusetts, Connecticut, or Rhode Island, this is for you.

Why This Question Matters

Most shop owners avoid tough people decisions for one reason:

They don’t want to be “that boss.”

They hope things will get better.They hope the employee figures it out.They think it’s loyalty.

But what happens instead?

• Customers get misdiagnosed

• Repairs get delayed

• CSI and reputation suffer

• Other techs start mirroring the behavior

• You end up stepping in to fix everything

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That’s not loyalty.That’s a slow drain on your business.

Signs It Might Be Time to Terminate a Tech

Here are the key indicators that came up in the episode and that we coach on:

1. Repeated Quality Issues

Everyone makes mistakes once in a while.

But if the same quality issues happen over and over, it’s a systemic problem — not a learning moment.

Customers notice it.

It shows up in CSI scores.

It erodes trust.

2. Lack of Improvement After Feedback

Giving clear, documented feedback with expectations and follow-ups is leadership.

If performance hasn’t improved after consistent coaching — even with targets and accountability — then it’s not a training problem anymore.

It’s performance.

3. Negative Influence on the Team

Some techs carry attitudes that spread.If other techs start to adopt the same tone, or deflect responsibility, the culture changes.

A shop can only grow if the team moves in the same direction.

4. When “Good Conversations” Don’t Change Results

Hear this from the episode:

Saying the right thing in a meeting is not the same as performing in reality.

If you have calm, agreeable conversations, but the productivity and quality don’t improve, the work speaks louder than the words.

This Isn’t About Being Harsh — It’s About Being Responsible

Terminating a tech doesn’t mean you don’t care about people.It means you care about the health and future of your shop.

Here’s the framework we use in coaching:

• Document behaviors and performance

• Set clear expectations

• Give real consequences

• Give opportunities to improve

• Act consistently

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This creates clarity for everyone — including the owner.

When It’s NOT Time to Terminate

There are situations that aren’t termination-ready:

• A tech made one big mistake

• A tech is new and still learning

• A tech has asked for help and is improving

In those cases, you coach, train, and support — not terminate.

The difference is trajectory.

Are they improving?

Are they committed?

Are they acting like part of the team?

If yes → keep coaching.

If no → it may be time to let go.

Why This Affects Your Freedom as an Owner

One of the biggest reasons shop owners feel trapped is unresolved people problems.

When:

• you are the only one who can fix production issues

• you constantly rework mistakes

• you personally manage every conflict

…you don’t own a business.

You own a job.

Learning how to navigate coaching vs accountability vs termination is not easy — but it’s essential if you want a shop that:

• Runs without you while maintaining high CSI

• Grows predictably

• Attracts better techs

• Gives you options

We Can Help With This

At Lotus Consulting, we work with Auto Repair Shop Owners to:

• build clear performance systems

• coach teams toward accountability

• identify when a tech needs help vs when they need to move on

• create a culture that produces results

• give owners more time back

  
  

This isn’t theory — it’s based on real shop experience and proven systems.

If you’re struggling with staffing, performance, or people decisions in your shop, we can help. Contact Us Today to learn how our coaching supports Auto Repair Shops in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.

Listen to the Full Episode

Hear more about this topic on the Owner Optional podcast episode:

“How Do I Know When It’s the Right Time to Terminate a Tech?”

Written by James Stephenson, Master Technician, Multi-Shop Owner, and Founder of Lotus Consulting.

 James actively owns and operates Auto Repair and Automotive Service Businesses across Massachusetts and Connecticut.