Every day, millions of Americans wake up dreading the thought of going to work. Luckily, for the five employees at Yeck’s Tire & Auto, that’s not that case. That’s because owner Mark Lowe has made his employee’s safety a priority. So much so that the shop recently took home top honors at the 2025 VISION Hi-Tech Training and Expo event for Best Place to Work.
“Yeck’s Tire & Auto has been there for me and supported and trained me through many things that a normal company would just expect you to know/do. Still to this day if I have a question I am unsure about, if asked they will answer and teach so I have the knowledge needed the next time that issue arises.”
This is just a small excerpt from the nomination form that the staff filled out for the award but it shows just how much employees appreciate feeling safe and knowledgeable in their workspace.
Every week, the company has safety discussions and Lowe makes sure the atmosphere is comfortable to work in. During the summer, a swamp cooler and fans keep cool air moving through the shop and cold water and sports drinks are available to all employees. During the winter in Nebraska, the shop is heated and coffee and warm drinks are provided. The lot is always plowed and ice melt is applied so it’s safe for the clients and team members to enter the shop.
Small steps like this can make a huge difference for employees and Lowe is a great example of putting his employee’s well-being first.
Backstory:
Mark Lowe has been working at Yeck’s Tire & Auto in Bellevue, Nebraska, for 45 years. He started by pushing brooms and worked his way up to partner and then in 2010 he took over the business fully. He currently has three technicians and two service advisors working for him.
Problem:
According to the Center for Advancing Health, Forty-four percent of people would describe their workplace’s environment as dangerous, unsafe and unpleasant. That number may be even higher for automotive technicians as the Bureau of Labor Statistics describe the job as having “one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations. Injuries may result from incidents such as slips, falls, and overexertion. Workers reduce the risk of injury by following safety procedures and practices, such as using proper lifting technique and steel-toed shoes.”
Luckily for Lowe, he says it's never been much of an issue for him and even before he took over, he generally felt safe. However, he does acknowledge that there are always days where it’s hard to come into work and an unsafe environment definitely contributes to that.
Solution:
While Yeck’s Tire & Auto has done a good job of keeping its employees safe, accidents do happen. Lowe says that years ago one of the employees slipped on the floor and knocked his head. After that, there was an increased push for safety and the team began having weekly safety check-ins.
Lowe says that at the beginning of the staff meeting, the team has a safety discussion. In the winter, it could be about watching for ice and in the summer it could be about hydration. The team is always encouraged to report if the first aid kit is running low on any supplies.
“If anyone sees anything unsafe, everyone has the ability to shut something down,” Lowe says of the power that he gives his team when it comes to safety.
If any of the equipment is starting to seem outdated or unsafe, the staff is encouraged to bring their concerns to Lowe. In fact, the day of the interview with Ratchet+Wrench, Lowe was overseeing the installation of a new four-post lift because the old one was 25 years old and needed to be replaced.
At Yeck’s, all standard safety practices are followed. For example, the team does weekly and monthly inspections of all of the lifts. Whenever a new team member is brought on board, the senior tech will walk the floor with him or her to show how the equipment works. Floor techs will then follow up, as well as Lowe himself, to make sure that the new employee has a thorough understanding. Then, during the 90-day probation period, Lowe checks in to make sure they’re feeling comfortable on the floor and if there’s anything that can be improved.
“If they have ideas, I’m going to listen,” Lowe says.
Feeling safe at work is about more than feeling physically safe. Employees need to feel like their employer has their back, and Lowe does 100 percent. He says he has an open-door policy with all of his employees and he encourages them to come to him with any issues.
“I’ve never locked my door,” Lowe says. “If they need to talk about anything. I’ve always had an open-door policy.”
Work life balance is very important to him, he says, and he wants to make sure they’re not stressing themselves out or pushing themselves too far. Living in the Midwest, for example, he makes sure his employees are staying home if the roads are too bad. The mental well-being of his employees is so important that Lowe is looking at adding mental health resources for his employees.
Aftermath:
Lowe has created such an amazing workplace for his employees that in 2025, Yeck’s Tire & Auto took home the Award for Best Place to work at VISION. What was even more rewarding for Lowe was the fact that his employees nominated the shop.
Takeaway:
For any shop owner that’s not making his or her employee’s safety a priority, Lowe has very simple advice. “Don’t do it.”
Lowe goes on to explain that it’s not worth it to put your employees at risk in any way. It may seem like a lot, but it’s really not, especially when you compare it to how it would feel to have an injury–or possible death–on your conscience. It can be as simple as having a safety talk once per week and it makes all the difference.
