Owner Retires – Gives Employees $1,000 Per Year of Work

Just down the road in Ann Arbor, 83-year-old Howard Cooper has owned Howard Cooper Imports since 1965, and decided it was time to retire.

Last Wednesday, he made the announcement that he was selling his dealership Germain Motor Company, a company based in Ohio.

To help soften the blow to his employees, he gave each of his 89 employees $1,000 for every year that they worked for him.  Those who started just a month ago even got some money.  Howard prorated it, so they got $83.  People that worked there for six months got $500.

A mechanic who has worked there for 26 years got $26,000.  The guy that drives the parts van got $28,000.  And Sandy Reagan, who has worked for Howard since 1966, walked away with a check for $46,000.