Unit 17
Tips on Getting More Efficiency out of Women Employees
This is an actual excerpt from the July 1943 issue of Mass Transportation. It was written for male supervisors of women in the work force during WW II.
There's no longer any question whether companies should hire women for jobs formerly held by men. The draft and manpower shortage has settled that point. The important things now are to select the most efficient women available and how to use them to the best advantage. Here are nine helpful tips on the subject:
1. Pick young married women. They have more of a sense of responsibility than their unmarried sisters, they are less likely to be flirtatious, and they need the work or they wouldn't be doing it, and they still have the pep and interest to work hard and to deal with the public efficiently.
2. When you have to use older women, try to get ones who have worked outside the home at some time in their lives. Older women who have never contacted the public have a hard time adapting themselves and are inclined to be fussy. It's always well to impress upon older women the importance of friendliness and courtesy.
3. General experience indicates that the girls who are just a little on the heavy side are more even-tempered and efficient than their underweight sisters.
4. Stress at the outset the importance of time -- the fact that a minute or two lost here and there makes serious delays on schedules. Until this point is gotten across, service is likely to be slowed up.
5. Give the female employees a definite day-long schedule of duties so that they'll keep busy without bothering the management for instructions every few minutes. Numerous managers say that women make excellent workers when they have their jobs cut out for them, but that they lack initiative in finding work themselves.
6. Give every girl an adequate number of rest periods during the day. You have to make some allowances for feminine psychology. A girl has more confidence and is more efficient if she can keep her hair tidied, apply fresh lipstick and wash her hands several times a day.
7. Be tactful when issuing instructions or in making criticisms. Women are often sensitive; they can't shrug off harsh words the way men do. Never ridicule a woman -- it breaks her spirit and cuts off her efficiency.
8. Be reasonably considerate about using strong language around women. Even though a girl's husband or father may swear frequently, she'll grow to dislike a place of business where she hears too much of this.
9. Get enough size variety in operator's uniforms so that each girl can have a proper fit. This point can't be stressed too much in keeping women happy. |