About half of the dealership’s 291 employees participate, said Burns, himself a participant.
Employees donate through payroll deduction. Those paid weekly see a $2.50 deduction per paycheck, and it’s $5 per check for those paid semimonthly.
To make a withdrawal, participants submit written requests with supporting documentation to the dealership’s human resources manager, who is the only person who knows the identity of the employee making the request.
After being stripped of obvious identifying information, the request is sent to a five-person committee and includes the employee’s hire date and salary.
Committee members are rank-and-file employees who have earned Employee of the Month recognition for their leadership and decision-making skills. They are also fund participants. The current committee has been in place for about two years, and its members each have worked at the dealership for 10 to 12 years. The membership is refreshed from time to time, but not on a regular timetable, Burns said.
