UP BUILDING FORCE THE GET TO HOW HELP, A YET MEN" HUNDRED SCORED OUT WEEDED FACTORY A HOW ORG.VNIZATION THE INTO FIT AND APPLICANTS, HANDLE OUTPUT AN RECORD WAYS TESTED FIFTEEN LABORERS, SECURE HELPERS SKILLED AND WORKMEN By A. W. H. A. SHAW WORMAN COMPANY NEW CHICAGO LONDON Y.O.RK TO MEN Copyright, DMDKR THE nXLE 1913, bt COMPANY A.W.SHAW "HOW TO GBT WOHEMKH' CONTENTS Page RECRUITING THE ING WORK- FORCE 5 sell their who cannot Recognizing good men through planned interviews. mannerisms. II What to PERSONAL Pointers men. IN 19 Impracticability of putting hiring workers. work. Guarding against the critic and the new maker. mischief Ill new MEN on at men in services;seeing by bis man a INTERVIEWS HIRING old avoid Judging HIRING UNSKILLED MEN WORK27 What small to skilled IV select in unskilled job, a mistake. a Too men. An unusual much brains method in too of hiring un- labor. la" HIRING SEMI-SKILLED WORKMEN 35 How in general experience. Value Fitting the worth. workman one the to man boss proved his makes for harmony. V HIRING SKILLED MEN WORK41 In a to VI workman's younR a floater. pay a Good to man service,many bespeak tools the How not note de- What MEN FROM RANKS Encourage fit. may start. PROMOTING THE changes fine workman. a ducing men by giving them firstchance. Rewhere by transfers to place men they in your keep track of the men plant. your pay to 47 own roll "^r\r% r% m r^ CONTENTS 4 Chapter Page NEIGHBORHOOD VII OF SUPPLY of Friends your list houses lists card VIII SOURCES 53 mechanics own good often supply GETTING expert IN good a Blind operators. field. Machinery advertisements and men. TOUCH OUT-OF-TOWN WITH WORKMEN 57 . lists Standing of source in o"Fs applicants of Good supply. industries which alive kept workmen are by a found "tickler" among file the a lay- slack. EMPLOYMENT FORMS NVUBER 1 RATE TRANSFER AND CHANGE CARD 16 .... 2 EMPLOYEE'S 3 A 4 REQUISITION 5 FACTORY 6 OFFICE 7 EMPLOYMENT 8 A 9 QUIT ADDRESS TRIP WITH CARD APPLICANT AN FOR RECORD REFERENCE AND CHART 31 BLANK 37 BLANK APPLICATION SLIP 21 HELP APPLICATION BETTER 17 FINAL 45 FOLDER 49 LETTER 55 INTERVIEW RECORD 63 . . I RECRUITING THE WORKING FORCE is the chief commodity entering material, any factory. Outlay for raw fuel, supplies,rarely equals the pay by month or year. Usually wages amount LABOR roll the to twice where cost of materials: the finish and men and tories fac- parts spent the money trebles the expenditurefor the wood require elaborate for in many of accuracy iron processes, which they fashion into finished product. Is this overwhelming importance of labor recognizedin the methods used in bargaining for it ? Analysisshows the contrary to be true. The purchasingagent for materials bulks large in every organization of size. In rank and salary he is the peer of the sales manager. It is conceded that the profitsof the house depend his abilityto '^buyright,"to forestall maron ket stock of standard to secure fluctuation, raw qualityat the lowest possible price,no less than the skill of the sales department in disposon ing of output. To aid him, all the resources of marshalled ; factorymeththe organization ods are modified at his bidding; foremen bow are to his decisions. Nor is his vital relation to the HOW 6 TO of the business success Purchase GET HELP way over-rated. the other hand, is in any o:^Jabor, on _^ Either tte.ated as -lijdfflental. the selection of made part of the duty of the superWQr]qne.n.is ie-it'tofhe "iHteiid'enf,' foremen, or is intrusted officialhaving none to a minor of the authority and not than more a materials third of the pay of the agent. It is the rule, purchasing indeed,in factories employing a thousand men the factoryhead or departor less to depend on ment chiefs to find the mechanics they need. Yet every and consideration laborers ing prompt- that stock shall be machinery and raw familiar with the market bought by a specialist, conditions of the hour, applieswith equal force to the purchase of labor. Men harder to judge than bars of steel, are brass ingots or bales of fiber. According to sample", does not hold in dealing with them. Every laborer, handy man," machinist,is a sample himself whose fitness can be determined only by patientinquiry which superintendent and foremen haven't time to conduct. They act on the theory that the simplest way is to try the applicantout. It is simple also costlj^ beyond reason. To be charged up against the process, there who is the time lost by the skilled worker breaks in" the new recruit,the materials spoiled,the tools injured during the operation and further education of the novice, the decrease in product from the machine bench or ** *' " ** involved. be broken It is true that the average man must in. The point to be remembered is that the process pays only when a permanent workman is thereby developed and that careful, " methodical trained The man mind who selection of will save chooses more applicants by than employees for a its costs. any con- THE FINDING 7 MAN RIGHT kind cern, large or small,should have the same of judgment and trained faculties possessedby qualityof the a good purchasing agent. The qualityof the organization linked those and on this last depend the and vital things, quality of output and reputationof the house. individual the determines " Rather Inefficients Selection Always Bad Trying Out The ideal force is that which Than ligent Intel- Practice turns itselfonly of long intervals. In that way lie efficiency effort,understanding and co-operationwith the management, reduction of spoiledwork ^in one of tools and broken word, economy at " stitute Trying out inefficientsas a subfor intelligent selection works another evil to the company practisingit,by spreading the report of easy dischargesand the difficulty of holding a job or **making good." Applicants since every shy away from such factories, dischargeis a black mark on a man's record by the steady, selfparticularlydreaded the house desires most to respectingworkmen manufacture. " secure. In recent tremendous in years this consideration weight. The production and systems the have increase failure of existingapprentice made it difficult even for factories in the most to engage as many machine tenders as enormous carries favorable locations high-grademechanics and moved rethey need. For concerns from the great labor markets and tagged with the name of hiring and firing"with littleregard for the individual, the securingof skilled labor has become a costlyand strenuous task. To of this character, one company known to the writer,the cost of the additional tool-makers required by changes in models ** TO HOW 8 and This the bonus This firm had until it had HELP ranged included from $100 to the penses travelingexforemen who engaged the men for moving exacted by the latter. followed the **tryout" method of the and sales by augmented $200 each. GET become double a burden on the business. Contrast with another of the this **hit and factoryand the executive office men conduct process, well-known system which has recognizedthat of miss" of the company intelligent hiring trade apart from is a a division department. leading labor or Though distant from the centers,the reputation of its labor bureau for giving a fair hearingand a square deal to every applicant not patently undesirable has gone abroad and brought many pilgrims to its doors nomial a seeking places. With pay roll of about less than no 3,000 names, 42,000 for candidates jobs presented themselves within two It is worth noting that years. failed to seventy-fiveper cent of this number pass the first tests,twenty-five per cent were rated as usable judged by the rather high company either standards,and five per cent were given employment immediately or listed for notification when should vacancies occur. The high grade of applicantsattracted is indicated to every four by the ratio of one usable man presentingthemselves. Snap Judgment Is Not Basis a for the Best Selection The moral is evident. take their idea of and a Thousands company's of of workers labor policy " ing since they see nothfactoryconditions, of the shop interiors from the employment be he the superintendent ing interpolatman, with rapid-fire interviews applicants " THE FINDING among with his other tasks,a foreman or filled, to be a 9 MAN RIGHT regularagent whose a cancy va- first tent supply the factorywith compeworkmen. Impatience, unnecessary refusal harshness,blunders or arbitrarydecisions, is negato deal frankly with applicants, tive the remote most reaches which advertising the company of the country,condemns corners tunates to the unforand ultimately limits its market concern is to who have no choice but to take what independentsable to exact guarantees forms. the before filling out company's is no intuitively Abilityto size up a man common gift. Most of us in arrivingat the value and fitness of the prospectiveemployee must substitute for the captain'sinsight, quaintance acwith the qualitiesand the degree and knowledge of skill the open placedemands of the surface marks ence, bespeaking health,experiesty intelligence, capacity,industryand honin the man before us. Instead of trusting to the snap judgment of the industrial prodigy, to make however, we have it in our power tory searching though tactful inquiryinto the hisand character of the applicant, ing thus basdecision on facts as well as an impresour sion too often influenced by negligible factors in the man's or personality. appearance It is an axiom that any man worth hiring from to an expert machinist a laborer or countant ac^is worth interviewing,if only to determine the vacant niche in the organization offers and the " " where \\dll he will be content and his abilities produce the best results. First impressions should be corrected are valuable,but they by diligentstudy of the applicant'srecord, personal equipment and characteristics. Many lack the competent mechanics and office men art of personal salesmanship; long service in HOW 10 TO GET HELP singleorganizationmay make embarrassing the very necessityof applying for a place elsewhere, and only careful handlingwill bring out the applicant's real worth and capabilities. of many The man jobs,on the other hand, has gone through the ordeal so often that he how has learned in the to present his wares favorable most light. He may have learned, too, just what positionsare open and have ingly. planned his approach and his repliesaccordHe has keyed himself up to a special effort also and not infrequentlythis artificial a and energy will carry aouteness him phantly trium- through a brief interview and win him where a more exhaustive test would a position, have brought collapseand of his exposure incompetence or undesirability. to take charge of and reorganize Wanting a man a special stock department recently, I was much impressedat first sightby a youngster He had a diploma who presentedhimself. from a small western tory collegeand a year'sfachim, but these experienceto recommend seemed minor considerations him. talk with First utes' after five min- Impressions Not Sure Always a Correct or Guide He to appeared aggressive,intelligent, eager hold take and himself develop ^urging " that he wanted me upon and through his purpose was the organizationto the he could that attain. His however, was him a been a ness" the busi- to work up highestlevel letter from his last ployer, em- trifle colorless;so again and the head of the department asked to **to learn to call sent an I inquiry in which he had clerk. Before an answer came, he returned " and I gave almost word brain utes In the five min- killed his value. which II limitations in outlook and displayedthe power MAN RIGHT THE FINDING him, he reproduced idea for idea, word, the matter of his first and had nothing further to offer. interview vacant had coached up" for our He place, having received a tip on justthe kind of ability I was looking for,but had not the initiative or mental industry to pursue study of the subject firstimpression. after he had made a favorable As an alert,constructive, was energeticman for " ** for the needed And the letter from lost his chance. he vacancy, "boss" his former received exactlyconfirmed my decision that he lacked industry,tenacity,the habit of study everything,indeed, the job he coveted required. Take time,then,to guard againstimposition of this sort and to get at the real caliber and two later days " of the nature man employment skilled check before you. agents Some refuse even study and comparison of invented be after he has details. trusted " had a a quent subse- his account chance to of forget and questionscannot always the good nature be by references Satisfactory to the routine answers to hire at the first interview,desiringto man their first impression of him himself ful success- of his last ployer em- familiarity responsiblefor the first, with forms may explainthe second. Too much attention can be paid to the man's himself. His story not,however, to the man his personality, his manner of carrying appearance, himself,his walk, the way he sits,his speech,the way he meets or avoids your glance, his features,his hands, the care he gives his all sign-boardsadvertisingthe are person qualityand extent of the stock of brains and for an energy he carries within. It is possible may " TO HOW 12 GET HELP employer to attach too much importance to these tilings, to make On the a hobby of them. other hand, however, they often disclose qualities wliich the other and he is more How Personal or to conceal wants man or capacitiesof ignorance. valuable less in Characteristics Form suggest which the Index of Ability In general the eyes give index of honesty and intelligence, the nose suggests initiative lack of it,the chin decision and force,the or mouth character. This in a normal individual ture feaindicated by one ^thoughthe deficiency be more than compensated by the may unusual strength of another. The hands, too, " count in this outside estimate In laborer a hands to are mechanic, be expected as or of the inner of man. strong accompaniments course, of well-developedor well-trained muscles dicate justas calloused placeson palm and fingersinthe habit of labor. For factoryworkers, too, the broad, square hand mends always recom" its owner. Put him at his speedilyas possible then study him as, off-guard, he reveals himself. His his apparent self alert manner, ish respect,the grip he holds on himself may vanthe moment confidence ease he as conceives " he has secured sympathy. Then watch for the slump ^unless his quality is genuine. If he slipsdown in his chair,becomes garrulous, shows to be thought knowing and a eagerness "good fellow,"he hasn't the mental and moral fiber of the most valuable tj^peof employee. If he takes the matter of his emplojonent seriously,concentrating his attention on that point until it is settled and volunteeringno information not bearing directlyon it,it is your " or THE FINDING MAN RIGHT 13 fixityof he tackles his day's work, and when purpose in handling or speaking of the same reserve the company's affairs. Many employment the men waiting in the agents keep an eye on outer officeas well as on the man immediately likelythat he who individual the door the chair nearest secures same quiet,self-contained The in hand. will exhibit the to the neither takes part in the conversation attention on wastes about him nor or other reading,gets a favorable newspapers On his name. mark before the agent knows officeand inner the other his own his hand, the fellow who can't keep counsel,who takes his neighbor into confidences with " others and What as that placed in he be unless " is set down time discusses or who one his of officeor an Characters a baseball the games potentialsalesman a his will waste is he whether fellows own factorydepartment. to Avoid Hiring New in Workmen The "drifter" various brief is changes " glibwith the desirable he is frank as about for his excuses the man will be as for his reasons leavinghis last place. If he was discharged, be bitter no capable, industrious he may worker " be blamed for resenting a "pay off" slip. But if he is sweeping in his condemnation can of conditions at his last to rejecthim other unless the place,it is safe from agent knows is much that the case it. The confirmed "knocker" sources he as scribes de- usually presents his negative credentials by word of mouth ; and no degree of skill can counterbalance the effect he will have in the he is office assignedto. Nice man shop or discrimination who is ready to is needed take any in job you hiringthe can offer HOW 14 TO GET HELP be desperatelysincere in his may promises to leave promotion and compensation He him. in your hands, but actual contact with entirely tasks usuallyupsets his unworthy or ill-paid of a large resolution. There was the foreman southern saw-mill I engaged to take charge of of blacksmiths in one of our a gang plants. He was in appalling straits, having brought his invalid wife and North exhausted his sources re- twelve absolutelythat he walked borer's miles,having no car fare,to inquire for a laI learned job at another of our works. so after my decided that his first interview of this incident and him, would be of work done than common rough and to intelligence the workmen. painful yet " shop. The required no more it took and stock-keeper,on man young that I would announce to pay him more money, Of course place or lose him. a rect di- it and master gratitudewas almost to him just six weeks have hired men His sicken of the work For handle in this blacksmith use was to ability with find him he another who was a another paid o-ff. was occasion, I fair very countant. ac- With him, too, it was a questionof bread-money; and though I made it clear to him that the work all like what at the ** '* chance willingto the he do seventeen was would be heavy accustomed and to,he not jumped taking the place. He anything" and admitted of and one-half cents aj: an wa6' thathour: good." But the mechanical nature of, the work, the deadly routine,wore him out m and he quit with an apology. Thai, a fortnight, ally actuwas on a mistake my part ^the company lost money, for he hadn't acquiredeither in handling stock by the time speed or facility he presented his resignation. make for these disappointments, To up looked " MAN RIGHT THE FINDING 15 encoimters squaremployment man of some tirethe word who mean every jawed boys formula, '^any job at all." There were who besiegedmy office two young collegemen two years ago, decliningto take refusals when I told I had no placesfor them. I told them sion. them there were no openings in the office divithat they rejoicedto They answered hear it ^that they wanted factory jobs. Both too lightfor truckers or department helpers, were at a loss to placethem. and I was To dismiss them, I explainedthat the only as errand jobs I could possiblygive them were boys. One was twenty, the other twenty-one I fancied they both college graduates and every " " " refuse to be messengers Not a bit of it. ''When would week. they five time demanded. I six weeks or three four or transfer them or " at six dollars do start?" we capitulated.They lasted as By that messengers. foremen had asked department clerks or Within a year, both boys had won four promotions and were drawing dollars a as week. foreman Now a of them one is an me ** to ers." trac- three fifteen ant assist- and the other is in line for similar promotion. Haste carelessness in interviewingapplicants jobsalways reports of "pay-offs" and it cannot be urged too who stronglythat an undue proportionof men a serious slump quit or are dischargedmeans in the general efficiency volved of the departments inand a correspondingmoney loss to the or for is reflected in the " company ** broken when fresh batch of workmen in" to the vacant places. a are in a crowd, therefore,is Interviewingmen a costlyprocess, though one stillfollowed by of applicompanies which find a largenumber cants at their gates every day. It is true that HOW 16 at least four in the work TO men GET HELP in every five who ask for large cities are and undesirable, that the separationof the sheep and the goats ought to be the preliminaryprocess. The trouble is that the process rarely goes beyond this preliminaryinquiry. The employment with his list of the day's wants in man, his hand, marches out into the crowd, picks out the most likely so far as externals man, go, and asks him what he can do, or even demands If the man a foundry job?" bluntly "Want reallyneeds work, he will take a chance and say **yes" to almost any question the agent puts to him, trusting to adapt himself to the work after he has tackled it. Not infrequently, investigationof his fitness for the place goes further ; he is simply given a pass and sent no to the department which has asked for help. FORM 1: Cards like this filledin by foremen and sent keep him advised of progress of all men manager and are a fair indication of each man's merit Haphazard assignment of workmen to the in the ployment em- plant like this the workman. the company as well as put to work without real knowledge of he he is able to do, and not infrequently wrongs He is what does not understand just what is expected of HOW 18 and weeks TO GET trebled transfers the the among involved only the listing a for this the the This, the to city plants is out with weeded skilled, to do man wants and then and responsible tell what what culls sizes they they vdll out each up he the class fellows all for them sent into their attempted to them. followed do. the at needing raff riff- The and ceremony tunity oppor- every what The the at know. do, that men given can made was and small men sides Be- " inquiry I ant assist- file" applicants process organized the trades the to before the Yet was departments is vidual indi- clerk. departure closer a the an more laborer for indeed, or likely responding cor- a occupation two talking the of departments experience them *^ common office and extra an chief his out and assign best in with men. an with the above his ability and " picked to addition factory purpose places in to the interviewer gate, the of employees of census the agent installing all of of average efficiency in co-operation employment previous departments, increase changes HELP they want employment of who workers offer he selves. them- II INTERVIEWS PERSONAL MEN HIRING TO WHOM concern" letters references. But it may little value as skilled workers worth while your at least to the man's from query IN of secure last a ing in hir- sort, it is any confidential employer. for whom to the foreman of are port re- Address the cant appli- for that purworked, securinghis name pose. Letters to the general manager may fail bring a response on the very pointsyou wish will be to emphasize. Usually the answer ing prompt and honest, for employers are comto that to understand their interests in this If respect are mutual. for references, he should will be consulted delay in no an applicant is understand that they possible; then speedilyas making the inquiry should as It is neither fair to the to the company, which may of a valuable workman. It is obvious asked thus man lowed. be al- nor lose the that the character and just ices serv- tion reputa- of the former your and estimate the employers should influence of the man, his probableworth, weight to be given their statements HOW 20 about him. TO Too GET HELP miuch dependence must not It often happens that a be placed on them. firm will bear a grudge againstan efficientman has resignedand will attempt to punish who Several him by refusing a recommendation. instances have come one this manner case by big a under my observation. of treatment lumber company appliedto to was In corded ac- former a for a posime tion superintendentwho He explained that he as yard foreman. could not hope for a favorable report from his former employers,narrating the circumstances seemed of his resignation.His reasons good, and when the expected knock" came along,I disregardedit and hired him on the strengthof his experienceand the impressionhe had made *^ on me. A similar case was that of the chief buyer of who quit because of large Eastern company cut in his salary. The firm retaliated with a unfavorable reports of his work and actually a kept him unplaced for some time. I took him of his on as assistant purchasing agent because lengthof service before the disagreement and his knowledge of market conditions ; his record has been eminently satisfactory.Bias like this must be provided against,since every capable workman turned means a positive away loss to the company. money These the general considerations are apply to the selection of which factory workers of every grade,every degree of skill. In dealing with each class, ditional however, there are certain ad- qualitiesto be borne in mind since each of the three great classifications requires and body purchasable of mind distinct powers and offering, at varying prices, therefore,opportunity for important wage economies or disastrous extravagances,as the employment PERSONAL INTERVIEWS 21 S o 2 -I i' y I H Ul ^ o " .=!3 .W5^ " C C ^ 5 OT C 4" sis ^ 2 "- ". o 3c o o " " G S y. a o ^ " O " W t" X 3 c W W Z W O w W J u. " o t 5 O " K O O CS " u d iL " " * li K o j" o o a " "" z $ U O a S " " o ij .. 1 "" o i3 Z O U D O" It. o J -i o z o bJ 5 " Po O "^ pj a g a, "j "M tt 81? 2 S 5"i zz 0 !i 3 y" O 5 Ul S aiTS tfl "2 r-^ o O 2 z t 122 5 " 0 ""t 0u coo S5 " fa ^^ d . 0. " o o: UlT w S o 5 2 Z.-ta-U c c""oz .ti Oi 1 "5 "" " t "O o z " U I 1 " ^ g 0 Ul D;"2 o 1 2 o " 4 u "- a I2 5 5 o ^" u H 0. Ul o o cc 9E u 3 O u o 0. fZ u" " H Z 5 o f Jr S Set " S ^ y" u S tf" u D*z| z CJ =: "i w o n z" a ^ a. kl 0. " S " a " w C '^ ta. f So -J U " "u ? .52 C u 0 " " ci- S"Eo "= a "*-" o Iz S ^ S S if IT C u "" Ul OC s u P fa S c o HOW 22 is alive to TO GET HELP indifferent to the needs of the departments and the current state of the labor man or market. Some of the Points to he Considered in Hiring Men The which great industrial concerns, in herds, submit laborers literally them tests except size,age, physicalcondition hire to no and nationality. ers Nationalitycuts a figurebecause the laborin their plants are almost wholly foreigners, speaking no English. Not only must the bosses under whom guage they work know their lanin order to handle them effectivelya sufficient reason for limitingmembers of any department to one nationality ^but experience has taught the management that each race has If inside aptitude for certain kinds of work. workers are wanted, Poles,Hungarians, Aus" " trians hired. are If outside men, choice runs to Irish,Scandinavians,Germans, Italians. Raw recruits,however, need direction in findingthe places best fitted for their talents. I recall a grocer's driver who applied for a place as file clerk in the office division. He had a splendid young ten body, honesty was writall over him, likewise,intelligenceand native wit. The briefest fact,however, that he necessary for explained this to him even a inquiry elicited lacked mediocre the the education office man. I and suggested that he start in the factory. He saw my point and took six-dollar job as errand boy in the machine a shop. He was sincere in wanting to learn and hustled through his routine tasks as though the most important affairs in the they were business. At the end of six months, he had every job 23 INTERVIEWS PERSONAL shop anxious to and the boss promoted him **show him how" to be a helper and gave him a simple machine to tend. In another six months, he was making modest little suggestions of short cuts and economies, and at the end of his second year was admittedlythe best operator in the milling and profiling sections of the shop. In spiteof his youth he was only twenty-two at the time in charge of these ^he was made a sub-foreman foreman and in the mechanic " " sections to the head path of his third year, and his of the whole shop is reasonably at the end straight.Now he might have made a good file clerk,suppliedhis lack of arithmetic, ing, writbookkeeping in night schools,but I doubt have "made good ' ' so emphatically he did in the factorywhere his fragmentary he would whether as schoolingwas his on The so progress or the to the house. own his usefulness Another not severe a cap handi- development of Class of Men Who Require Attention of a DifferentSort who man "wants to get into another line of turns out a work," however, sometimes serious problem. For instance,a mail carrier asked for a carpenter's job just when we needed for twenty or thirtyrough workmen that had to be some temporary construction hurried. His experience was limited to odd house or his neighbor's jobs about his own places,but he was so firm in his belief that he could develop into an expert carpenter,and I wanted men so badly, that I took him on, simply warning him that I might not be able to keep him after the current rush was over. It "saw and hatchet" job,and he little difficulty in satisfyingthe foreman long as the rough work held out. On the was a had so first HOW 24 TO GET list the latter handed the mail carrier in for ** '^ ever, howpay-offs, included. was I took the the circumstances up with the foreman, explaining and asking if he could not carry matter the fellow like HELP until he could journeyman's negative; the postman a but he had develop something skill. His often to men was intelligent enough, was the ineradicable clings very answer clumsiness who work after thirty.Nothing but to pay the man off. take hand up left,of was which course, He refused to accept the foreman's decision, however, carried the thing up to the ** front fluences office, "brought various social and church into bear,and eventually reinstated was the theory that since he had given up a '^life on with the company, his discharge job" to come would stir up public opinion against so soon the company. and earnest Luckily, he was and industrious the foreman, having him on his hands, took the trouble to teach him his trade. But the lesson emphasized the danger of with a permanent occupation hiringa man for a temporary job; or of taking the risk involved in helpinga middle-aged man to switch to a ** trade new Where have less not trade ? ' ' avocation. or you then,is important than **Have a tion quesyou a Here the value of the capable employment is clearlyin evidence. If he has man grasped the full and careful made he knows in worked?" a measure of his study of the character of the opportunities first principles, men employed all the larger establishments in the zone from which he draws his supply,the shop conditions in each case, the wage rates,the quality of output; and is able from this knowledge to make estimate of the applicant's ity abila shrewd to measure up to the standards of his own HOW 26 he that Be might find of wary TO three all things else opportunity or eyesight to know the lunch hour is either lacks common whom acquaintance into a good his how or his how street is wants long the run, he '^fusser'^ methods shop critic a health he cars or the full-fledged working If kept, initiative with labor, and output. the of congenial menace is time capable, exclusion wages neither limit how evolve steady, will nor the tail de- many and to hold. to too serious him make which asks is wants to conditions he interest He : qualified was who man If HELP he one the questions. GET and will mischief- maker. **Get out the temperament the antagonize to refuse it is a stop-gap secured, in line" employers, among has get or or serious until the applicant habit of mind likely of conditions a more to verb pro- if aims error a and company's acceptance Become has hire methods or him acceptable or they as exist, ex:cept man to as can a be ' .w^^, ^ PM III HIRING UNSKILLED WORKMEN workmen ment apply at the employoffice,they range themselves First naturally into three groups. the unskilled laborers come truckers, janitors, of ^men shovellers,material handlers mighty thews and sinews imder poor control, lackingthe brain development, experience or trainingwhich would fitthem for anything but WHEN " " muscular routine *' of drill and " second the In class there handy men" and punch hundred a effort. other are found skilled semi- assemblers, operators presses, milling,molding " half-automatic machines possessing intelligence,adaptabihty and some knowledge of tools,but untrained in the of them the that lie in possibilities them. Third, and most important, are skilled workmen ers, ^mechanics,tool and pattern makmachinists,hand molders, cabinet makers. dited Having served apprenticeshipsthey are creall-around with knowledge of their trades ; but in practicethey are usually specialists, the factory system directingtheir skill towards perfectionin a circumscribed field. exact use or " With the need for these three classes of HOW 28 TO GET HELP in the average factory,what are the essentials to be kept in mind in hiringindividuals workmen in each class brain or power must be the discontent in the the must of excess man's fact be skill any actual paid for, either in which accompanies beneath or Neither remembering that " ments require- money tasks in or genial uncon- abilities? best overlooked that in and industry,because *^openshop" intelligence of the division of labor,can break down the barriers hedging the semi-skilled and skilled occupations likewise that the mechanic an " who works from up the laborer's level in the company's employ, generallyrepays in the time spent on his loyalty and efficiency training. First and foremost hire a sound body for job. In a laborer,vigor and muscular every sentials. development are everywhere recognized as esLess attention,however, is paid to the health and officeworkers sustained Yet and is duties do not quiteas important machine factory require tender for the chanic me- whose be eye must be steady if he is not to exceed true, and hand his allowed whose of bodily effort. health or physicalcondition margin of error and is to keep his Not proportion of spoiledwork at a minimum. only is the output of the healthy man greater than the weakling's but its quality is higher, his lost days are fewer and the man himself is less liable to accidents due to fatigue,overstrain and dulled If there be than a clouds the soon faculties. for hiringa man poorer reason ^^hard luck story,"it is pity for the applicant's the a ill-health. Even judgment of the inexorable marks the law of when sjrmpathy employment man, department averages delinquentfor dismissal. The WORKMEN UNSKILLED health place of sound and 29 limbs in the ment equip- employees is recognizedin the regulation and of all the larger more progressive must pass a physical organizationsand a man before he signs the pay roll. In examination the smaller ment factory,the eyes of the employagent must do the work of the physician's stethoscope. of rejectionof any individual tion. bearing signs of drink or dissipaCompetition has cut profitmargins to and two or three Monday-idle the minimum, Like reasons machines command in any the serious make group inroads the department'searnings. The standard,therefore,which the employment will who agent must hold to, is the man produce a regular output every working day of the year. genius, Exceptional skill,even is out of place in a factoryorganizationunless it submits itself to the discipline supporting the mediocre majority. on What is Demanded Most in Unskilled Hiring Workmen Bodily strength,of course, is the unskilled Add a brain sufficiently man's stock in trade. awake to grasp the most effective way of forming perthe routine duties assigned to him or to carry you His out the directions of have the minimum a boss,and gang of measure laborer. a hands will tell you whether he is accustomed to toil; his shoulders, whether legs,arms he has the physicalforce to perform you would and standingwill indicate alertness set him at. His the tasks of moving or stupidity, initiative or a habit of dependence. Clumsiness be interpretedas lack of intelligence, may sluggishmotion as an index of slow and thinking or dearth of energy yooi are manner " HOW 30 TO GET HELP purchasingnot brawn, merely, but available man-power. Age is important. Eighteen to thirty-five the years of maximum are vigor,though a with a particular laborer of forty-five set of highly developed muscles is an admirable investment if he be healthy and you need a of his stripe.Size is a matter of specialist moment only when the work demands weight, such as trucking, handlingheavymaterials and the like. The of medium well-knit man size makes up in quickness, stamina and adaptability for any pounds he may lack. Since the rolling stone is undesirable, length of service in his last placeshould count,especially if the company be known as an employer of good men, changingwill that is an and the reasons applicant's pass muster. If he be for married, additional guaranteeof steadiness, will industry,sobriety ^his responsibilities anchor him to the new esty, job. Character,hon" which the man's are self-respect qualities face,his appearance, his previousrecord will affirm or deny as belonging to him. This is the laborer reduced to a common If you want a trucker who wiU denominator. remain a trucker indefinitely, you need study further. no your applicant Even with such simplerequirements, it is sometimes men. difficult, however, to secure Resort to unusual methods even in the great central market for unskilled men is sometimes demanded. Heavy shipmentsof iron and coal recentlyswamped the unloadinggang at a plantI was interested in,and the superintendent sent in a hurry callfor men to save the $100 the blockade in our a day demurrage which yards was costing.At least one hundred men were needed,while it happened that the mar- UNSKILLED 31 WORKMEN .S a I o If -I ^": ^"^"P J2 o o HOW 32 TO GET HELP was ket,justat the openingof lake navigation, empty of the type demanded. to every agency Recourse was had,therefore, Display advertisements available. in all the penny were run eign and in all the for- newspapers the papers, particularly and Hungarian dailies. ian LithuanItalian, Agents were patched dis- along the harbor front in search the organized longshoremen,particularly also of contracts for gangs of stevedores which make the unloading of vessels, doing all the work and themselves dividing the remuneration. rounded up and hustled such gangs were out to the works, while practically every ablebodied man who appliedat the downtown ployment emTwo office was also dispatchedto the plant. Unusual An Method Adopted to Secure skilled Un- Men Italian morning an intelligent men, presentedhimself,among other of his countryroustabout and askingfor one of the jobs, plained pleaded for permanent employment and ex- The second road that he had been a gang boss in railtrack elevation. '^ Can't you round up thirtyor forty men " I asked. " I '11 you know and bringthem in ? side pay you, or I'll giveyou a steadyjob on the inif you make good." he That afternoon, and Italians before five o'clock, sent in thirty ing telephonedasldngus if he could keep on sendafter six o'clock. I kept the office men peared open until nine o'clock. At that hour he apwith the last draft of seven ing men, bringhis total up to fifty. Of the half hundred, forty passedmuster, and I sent him out to the plant the next day He leapedat the chance. HOW 34 TO in the semi-skilled GET HELP could ranks be devised than the men hiring of capable, lusty young as factory laborers. To secure the highest type of tool makers, and pattern makers machinists, undoubtedly but experience in other shops is necessary; machine be can mastery of a half -automatic the two attained three without or years' apprenticeship which on obvious defensive Out Tested to ** instance show that breaking of years. booms in" Applicants in my with is unions insist for reasons. Quickly An the a ^'Broken Easily and in'' experience will the right material own question of At the outset the company Are of one for which weeks sersv-e this instead of the industrial I did the hiring compelled to put on a night force in all the mill departments. At the time, the factory closed shop. Union could not be was a men in the numbers secured we required, and the local council was forced to consent to the rapid fire training of forty milling machine and drill operators to meet the emergency. press From our truckers, clerks and department of young helpers,I chose a score taking men, lists of town the other twenty from and my to enter the comcountry boys who were pany eager 's employ, if a chance of bettering themselves was offered. All of them were of fair and school education capacity, had comotnon appreciated the chance to learn a trade in a hurry. As we had jigs and gaiuges for every machine operation involved, the degree of skill learned. soon required was IV HIRING SEMI-SKILLED WORKMEN blers, ^^handy men'*" assemdrill and punch press operators, hands, milling and molding machine SEMI-SKILLED and tenders of the hundred machines, form and one the second matic half-auto- great class labor,as a whole, may be divided. In hiring these semi-skilled men better no aiid fiber test exists for industry,intelligence labor. If a man than hard manual cheerfully ** wrestles" his truck, or **putshis back" into gence castings,he will not lack energy or dililifting when or promoted to a machine given his kit of tools. It is well opportunityto use of this type at hand for to have a few men emergencies,but it is useless to expect to keep them long at rough labor. however limited Expert knowledge or skill, in scope, must be employed at its proper work will drop below the standard of its efficiency or the class to which it is reduced. As a temporary while for makeshift, a waiting regular berth,a tool maker may serve as a handy man, tender as laborer,a bookkeeper or a machine into which HOW 36 TO GET HELP action stenographeras a clerk. But always the reand uninteresting against mechanical toil comes, and if the agreeabletask be not provided, himself/' "fires the man quitsor For this reason there is never gaging profitin en- short term a rush or season man to relieve unless it be for some other a brief temporary Honesty in stating the conditions to the applicant,too, is imperative, if the company's is to remain name good. Experience, brain power, adaptabilityare to look for in a semi-skilled the vital qualities In native mental and physicalequipworker. ment, he must be almost the equal of the skilled ^ ^the latter 's apprenticeship making worker the two the real difference in capacity.Indeed stress. " classes may almost be treated as one so far as natural qualifications go. It is in the closely related matter of trainingand experiencethat chanic emphasized. If a mesatisfies the primary requirements handy man from of health,freedom physical the distinction or must be habits ; if he be of suitable age is the maximum forty-five generallyallowed, defects " though saw and bad the skill of smiths and craftsmen this a blacksmiths,tool hardeners, few other often reaches ualized highly individits top limit at and the outward age carry brains and self-respect, he is worth General " Experience Counts for marks careful Much of tention. at- in Hiring Men Experience counts for much, because it has cable shaped the applicantand given him ineradistandards of what constitutes qualityand finish. Therefore hire mechanics and handy and have been mechanics who handy men employed in plants using your own types of LABOR SEMI-SKILLED EMPLOYMENT FOR APPLICATION DEPARTMENT WIANUFAOTURING nkut IN ruLt. HAVe YOU HAVC YOU CHRONIC ANY WCRC IN SICHT, A amU. EVER YOU OR OIVE VESIN NAME AND THI* COMPANY'* AOOREtSOF KNO NAMia amrcnticeship: . EMPLOY YOUR YOUR WAOC* AtMONCVt. . rATHCN . EMPtOYED BY THIS COMPANYt PREVIOUS "ivc UMMf ARC NCkAtI Or-VOUR OR MEARINa.BVCCCH i""T"AeeiwAT"iw YOU NAMES Or A BOY OlSCAtESf. OCrtCT ANY WtnC WI^CN ttlVC 37 AOomAan when or ano EMPLOYMENT HO" where sATt Lono or scrvco REFERENCES introduces by SENTTOOERT-. GIVEN . FORM western This BOOR RULESFRINTEO IN. style of applicationblank has been used by a large satisfaction and is designed to bring out all the information unduly harassingthe applicant. Many good necessary, without driven away are men by too exhaustive inquiry 5: firm with HOW 38 machines TO GET HELP producing work of approximately equal grade. Builders of typewriters,fire-arms,adding machines, cash registersare schooled to much the same standard of quality,for instance and exact adjustment of parts being accuracy the first ideal. Therefore machine operators, or " assemblers or tool makers from of any the plants in this group find it easy to accommodate their hands and their brains to the in any In the same other member manner, and wagon, quirements re- of the group. plow, harvester trade men with ease implement and safety,as do all sorts of engine works, foundries,textile factories and the multitude of smaller industries using merchant steel as their factories material. raw As is the in employing unskilled men, attention should be paid to the future development of the employee in hiring semi-skilled mechanics. Watch for that jewelamong men workwho has had foresightenough to acquire a trade allied to his regular avocation ance as insurIt is against idleness in dull seasons. case this command of alternate acquaintancewith English trained which one mechanics their leisurely ways. How One Man trades with an all-round or German makes valuable Alternate or despite Trade Was Discovered This capacityis not always advertised by the mechanic possessingit. It is my rule to learn whether than one an applicanthas more trade extra at his command ^in order " transfers from emergency is running slack to another orders. I remember correspondence,who one a to make department which overburdened mechanic struck me with engaged by as a man of LABOR SEMI-SKILLED mentality,but insisted pattern-making,the thing for which he hired,was his only vocation. umisual that was 39 and resource Set to work a on series of and new intricate he proved himself an expert at his craft. tools, corporating He suggestedsome changes in the design,inroom them in his patterns.But the toolfinding his methods foreign to its usual in reproducinghis pathad difficulty terns, practice, and he just how the such be reproduced,exhibiting and skill in applying processes said bluntly: **You foreman he minutes ten patterns could knowledge of them that must be The tools the well declared that his last " his double he concealed had employers " shifted him from made had his life. patterns all as why me that he admitted man new to demonstrated tool-maker." a as In called in for consultation. was Explaining he skill, ^small ufacturers man- pattern and tool-making to sharpening and repair jobs nearly every week, and had cut his rate each time they set him at the less difficulttasks,thus actuallypenalizinghim for his extra skill. I transferred him the same day and six weeks later signedthe slipadvancing him to job foreman in his new department. Select Netv Workmen with Semi-skilled as Who Your well Will Harmonize Force as the skilled ployees em- be tory. placed in the facjudiciously Foremen often a stumblingblock in are the effective operationof a department,but the has qualities difficultforeman which make him must invaluable case, the to hire that of to the house. When such is the miust do his best not employment man temperaments which will clash with the boss in question. As illustration, I TO HOW 40 engaged assembler an HELP GET few a promise of every gave and workman developing , his young, \head Icombative to by as his the most a splendid making ultimately into a and of the degree " who men was and face him to be quality possessed "do things." a Men of Apportioning his showed manner last He power. dynamic, was energy well as Right drive of unusual foreman who ago years Brings Good- Results I hired him for a department whose head But placid,even-tempered, hard to rouse. of the from I was factory in search away ant assistwhen he reported, and my screw-makers of of a sudden assigned him, because press of a foreman as bative comhurry orders, to the room himself. the new The explosion man as second the ^two job foremen occurred day assembler was pulled the men apart. My new lost an employee who paid off and the company to the organization, was a positive addition did not take his assistant simply because my temper and strong individuality into account he changed his assignment. when For the the same psychological reason, him the stances circumkeep before agent should the surrounding place he offers the The is paid to asman man. semble employment was " a a new harmonious cog, then, machine. he is wise mesh patently will not the boss already in place, unless are hurting the business. which In to ing introduc- reject with any those cog's peculiarities TO HOW 42 GET HELP is important.As he takes on apprenticeship however,the shopswhere age and experience, he has been employed become the chief measure of his worth as a workman. Ask him if he knows anyone in your own factory.Good workmen flock together.Quiet, make with no dependablemen friendships fellows. Mechanics have erratic or roistering as a rule,which a pride in their craft, cludes preassociation with sloth has incompetence. a trade demanding hand tools, and if they of these he owns makes. If he has plentyof or If your man learn how many be of standard goodtools it evinces interest in his work as well as a provident habit,and makes it unnecessary to lend from the company's supply. If his kit is small or the tools mediocre he is likely to make trouble by borrowing from bench mates and turn out to be a slovenly workman. In engaging a high-grade man, it is worth while to bring him into direct contact with the machines or the work with which he professes himself familiar. If he be incompetent,a will betrayhis lack of skill brief examination and knowledge. Five minutes spent in the shop will give the foreman a chance to **size him up" and therebycheck the employment man's conclusions. Given a glimpse of the if he have acid instead of shop,too,the man iron in his blood,will scarcely resistthe temptation to criticisethe equipment, the other and thus workmen, the methods or the product, exhibit the fatal weakness Guard Plant Your If he be before concealed. AlivaysAgainstthe Chronic Faultfinder faultfinder or meddler,no degree of skill or technical knowledge will outweigh mischievous tongue. Not long ago I a man's a SKILLED made He worker brass a 34 years was of unusual old and every worked had He in five minutes our gave him and melter, as polisher. and foundries talk he made the three firms But them. seven to the conduct allusion equipment. served and ployed em- of his trade master angle, having finisher fitter, molder, filer, from and this rule exception from an 43 WORKMEN ing durcastic sar- some of every one of I wrote to whom man excellent character as a workof his caliber was need of a man such an our disregardedhis temperament and put him on, warning him that he would lose have to accept the company's policies or to his new place. He promised to tend strictly business and for a month kept his pledge and uable He suggestedseveral valdid splendidwork. changes in methods, and I entertained come hopes that he would stick and eventuallybethat I acute so boss. a however, expression, itch for characteristic The too was strong. By the end of the second methods month his ridicule of the foreman's and fected company's department rules had afhis mastery of his trade the discipline, the giving immense him influence At the end of the tenth week men. off to the department from save the on he other paid tion disorganizawas store requirednearly six months to rethe harmony existingbefore he entered it. My exceptionhas proved my rule I will hire a knocker" never again on any terms. The final question is that of wages. It is a mistaken policy,according to my experience, ; and it " ^* to hire a accept or man for the smallest to pay him amount the maximum he will rate at the beginning. All lines of factorywork have a startingpoint generallyrecognized as equitable, time to *'getthe a man requiringsome HOW 44 hang''of GET TO unfamiliar HELP tasks and self accustom himto his new urally, surroundingsand having,natless value to his employer during this period. If the company has been paying the accepted there is no real profit in rate to others, beating an applicantdown because he needs badly. He discovers the first day that advantage has been taken of his positionto drive a hard bargain. Dissatisfaction follows immediately,he does not givethe company his best efforts, he takes the first opportunityto work demand increase an Fair seek another or treatment,on the contrary,giveshim initial impulseof enthusiasm desire to clinch his hold on an situation. and a an ing abid- permanent placewith a company willingto deal so justly with its employee. He will apply himself to speedy mastery of the job assignedhim, and the increase in his output for a singleday will sometimes whole repay are 37 1-2 cents established paying mechanics of his grade an hour,say, the rate having been as necessary required.Being from a week. You men for additional wage the a smaller town to the kind secure out of of job,or coming cheap rent and a where lower livingexpenses kept wages at a lower he may be willing to start at 30 cents an level, hour. My idea of a square deal,both to the and the man, would be to give him company 32 1-2 cents an hour, if I had made that sure he would be able to do the work, knowing that he would do and better work becaaise his had not been humbled self-respect more pride and by the last turn On for a would of the screw. the other hand, to pay him seasoned workman from the full rate the create dissatisfactionamong beginning the men al- i^ WORKMEN SKILLED FOR APPLICATION or rUIX. "N APPUCANT RESIOCMCC SPCCinCALLV. STATC POSITION DEPARTMENT OFFICE NAME 45 OF KINO ".0. AOORCB*. ANY CHRONIC OCSIRCO. POSITION NATIONALIT* . WANTCO SALARY . I EDUCATIONAL CIVC (IF A aOT) DOVOU HAVE 4 ARE YOU THERE STATE OF 80Y1 GIVE NAME . AGAINST VOUt HAVE HEALTH DEFECT FULLY INTERCSTST STANOINC JUDGMENTS ANY PARENTS?. "USINC** OUTSIDE CONDITION EXPLAIN IF A r YOUR WITH LIVE AND VOU ADDRESS HAVE MAY OF TOUR IN SIGHT, FATHEIf. PREVIOUS VOU SPEECH HEARING. OISCASEST OR . LIMB. . EMPLOYMENT INTRODUCeOBY BENT TO DEPf FORM 6: of the young by GIVEN .. a BOOK RULES PRINTED This oflficeapplicationblank applicantwho firm which is aimed has little commercial likes to train good IN . . at the characteristics experience. It is used material its own way HOW 46 employed, ready had expect an arguing that since materials the at to man, lowest The efficiency. position purchasing agent agreements w^hile consider contracts the can can the hundred be evaded or buy must the price, command is men his ways broken. at nent perma- difference two ployment em- hire must sellers employment subtle output value. agent will hold the indiscriminate successful, the his greater essential of was worth in market which wages the be in" was increase purchasing lowest would breaking he he if ambition counsel the As ** services would I generosity. the the start, subsequent that Not of amount his the himself, man after at his gave the increase complete, rate HELP GET and usual the only full TO tween bethat to man in which the their must his VI RANKS THE keep TO factorydepartments secured competent men his officeand supplied with at reasonable the with touch Three for men and is skilled sources of both divisions classes of organizationis be labor he cerns concan in keeping markets and the who to the force. semi-skilled and exist " except in the the floating of very large industries, supply of laborers will prove adequate. For the better The of methods be desirable additions would which reaching and securingindividuals of ways his first from the various of the is the work Therefore sources recruits,the draw case rates agent. employment are FROM MEN PROMOTING workers, the company's the to be considered one on qualityof any man your easilyarrived at by inquiryof his fellow workers always an unknown well he *' berth. If you sizes quantity,no up," can ^the man " a man first. pay roll can his foreman from outside matter until he is tried in his find own how new to fillthe vacant place inside your office or factory,then you save time, effort and the considerable cost of breaking in" a stranger. a HOW 48 TO GET HELP ^ More importantthan this firstobvious reason, however,is the effect on the organization of a policyof ** givingyour own the first men chance." In every largefactory, particularly if the year have its dull seasons or the product is made to order,some departmentsfind it off" men at intervals or employ necessary to **lay them on tasks less profitable house. to the In most of the departments, also,if the hiring has been wise,there are individuals who man have taken temporary jobs below their real capacityin the hope that later an opening for them will appear in their regularoccupation. Likewise,ambitious truckers have been studying machine operationsat odd moments and have acquiredskill enough to move up a peg to the semi-skilled plane,or handy men" who in have course nightschools or by correspondence earned the ratingof mechanics. In the office if the organization is healthythere is division, the same progressionfrom messenger to clerk, from clerk to accountant or stenographer, from specialist to department head. These ambitious or underrated employees form the internal or factory supply. It is the employment man's business to keep in touch with all of them, to give them the preference when the better placefor which any of *^ them is fittedoffers to transfer the fluous superis department overmanned, his services are needed. when a to the placewhere man, Permanency of or employment of advancement are and ity opportun- the magnets which draw good them faithfulin the face of increased pay offered in men to an organizationand hold by other companies.They make powerfully, and alertness too,for loyalty, efficiency since these are the qualities individuals, which win promotionfrom the ranks. In the HOW 50 TO GET HELP to **take care of every way, a disposition worker who has been doinghis honest best by work fails, evokes transfer when his particular same of co-operation, fidelity spirit corresponding themselves. the men and solidarity among Not only must the employer buy qualitybut rioration he must make terms which will prevent detea the initial standard. In this aided,sometimes hampered,by from he is sometimes while the purchasconditions, ing visible limit but the country's the freighttariffschedules. the local market agenthas no suppliesand Keeping in touch is As of matter a rule tions departmentalcondiobservation and inquiry. or not department head can- with foreman be wholly trusted to determine the exact needs of his department. Unconsciouslyhe thus takes the **rush'' season as his standard, a a and fights is averse to losinga tried man any reduction of his force so long as he can make a and output. Pressure fair showing of activity must him a be sometimes brought to bear to convince that the interests of the company shadow overthe smooth running of his department month loan of hence,before one or he will consent to the of his workers to another more the need is of today. of a huge the superintendent For instance, after study western plantdetermined recently, that the number of of the employment reports, department where out of proportionto the of current increase in business. The authority had never been defined the emplojmaentman and he had had no choice, when a requisition put new men was forwarded the that on was to him, but to fillit. Facing decisive order,however, superintendent's no men more further orders from thrown back on were to be hired he the front office, his officeand until was factorysupply to fillhis orders. MEN YOUR PROMOTING 51 there boys,particularly, For but every foreman fought and helpers. transfers of his messengers a was great demand, between Exchanging Help Emergencies Meet *' Will you let have me this minuted' working boys who are not finallydriven to departments had any he was ask, after study of various of that there him convinced of rounded man but course, up two a was certain amount foreman The the lads. loafingamong to Departments when the employment three in several or dozen sented con- partments de- duty, they objectedto the transfer. Finallyappeal made to the superintendent. He was saw a issued a genral order giving the employlight, ment under man over jurisdiction every man the rank of department head, with authority to transfer,and reiterated his order to hire no where more new For labor a boys were on men. three months, the embargo on outside dred enforced,and though nearly a hun- was time, the lost to the pay roll in that left readjustment of the thousands had made names been were to such service to customers the saving of transfers purpose has not suffered. that the Besides thousands and the good of dollars in wages, the creased promotions had actually in- of efficiency putting individuals the organizationby in the places for which they were best fitted. Occupationsthe most diverse are sometimes For brought together in a singleindividual. example, wanting a telegraph operator, I found an entry clerk drawing $10 a week who had had nine years' experiencein charge of a local officeand was delightedat the change and the advance I could give him. HOW 52 I have who truckers found had have GET TO HELP ip my occupation i"le all around experience as country blacksmiths, as machine operators of every kind, as paintersand wood workers, and handy easilydrafted into by dozens who were before them. places held by skilled workers In shiftingmen in anticipation of a slump of orders in any department, the best method men is to take their the foreman from names at the opportunity,get their trades from the application blanks and keep the list on your earliest desk as a of sort under men placing satisfactory I would a mediocre When have no in man it is known from the in ranks possible,ambitious In market. emergency such stances, circum- sing hesitancy in dismisanother department. a factory that promotion will be made whenever boys will begin to fit themselves for better places and will make effort to keep bright their department every records for punctuality,applicationand satisfactory handling of their work Ginger talks" and suggestion prizeshave their places in speeding up a factoryor office understand workers organization, but when that they are watched, not so much to insure performance of their tasks, as to get at their capacity for better jobs,there is an immediate and striking advance in individual efficiency men and ** and enthusiasm. The the a final element man laid off because seasonal member in the internal work supply is has slackened industry. Though usually the of the in est weak- department,it is well to bear if there is likelyto be need of him him in mind within a month or six weeks. Longer than that him, since his you are hardly able to command will probably prove hunt for work successful. VII NEIGHBORHOOD OF NO hard SOURCES SUPPLY and fast program can be outlined handling your labor markets, local surround or foreign. Circumstances every industry,the personalityand individual color its labor convictions of its management for policy,so as to make the problem of supplying office departments and factory workrooms one which work out must every employment man The utmost of help which can be for himself. tools of his given him is to suggestthe common of all trade, the methods by which workers classes can be reached and engaged, the things to be kept in mind when searching and hiring who acceptableemployees. It is for the man hires to determine be which of these methods wiU cheapest and most effective when applied to his own factory. The local supply and your stringof applicants do not mean the same thing,save in the of unskilled labor,either pick-and-shovel case the beginners in office and men or factory trades. If your factoryhas a wide reputation for paying fair wages, providing shop condi- TO HOW 54 HELP GET tions above the average, if there is abundance of sunlight, heat,fresh air in your workrooms tools are kept in good condition, skilledmechanics will be attracted from many other cities. Frequently, too,they will be so to **make good'' conscious of their own ability at their trades that they will make no effort to and your sell themselves to you at long range but will ' ' and applyin person. Despitethis up stakes fact,however, the better class of mechanics * ^ not found among cants. your dailyappliThese you must seek in other shops or usuallyare other cities. The very fact that wherever and in demand ployed they are emthey happen evidence that they are the kind of Therefore they are worth going you want. to be is sure men after. Handling the for skilled men local market " factory ^isa delicate opera-' tion in all but the great cities. In general allthe there is a sort of tacit agreement among employers of the smaller centers that there will be no hiringof one another's skilled men. Not infrequentlythis is unfair,both to mechanics tries. and the better organizedof the induseither for officeor I believe " that the local labor ket mar- should be fair and should men open, and that the best where gravitateto the company shown by the wages their value is greatest, as paid for their kind of skill. There are many sorts of work for which a high rate cannot be of unusual skill be paid ^why should a man " employed on dexteritycan and intelligence where produce greater wealth else- such when his "? Open biddingfor the services of such men, of course, might be resented. There are half of reachingthem to which no a dozen ways employer could object. " NEIGHBORHOOD LABOR SUPPLY COMPANY^ WILCOX PASTE PHOTOGRAPH CHICAGO APPLICANT OF HERE IN ^LCAat ANswcRiMa ncrcR NC^3477 to , 6th. JUM Smith and 1913 Vatson, ll.Y"j Syracuse, Gentleman: Geo* has applied On for employ to for us his 1909, for require as to that reason ho all he that of class same wished "Inthe In was work, to hand. your leaving to coma furnish rof responsible for the qualifications feel etc., and shall position named, greatly obliged, and treat below, confidentially, replies to questions together with information other give us concerning him. any you may erences We Uachinist as stated he application doing eight years, April 20th, Chicago. (photo attached) Johnson V. position a applicants respectability, their to respectfully, Very WILCOX CO. J.K.Kartland. Is his Is he, good Is statement to your character his him general to the correct? and habitat conduct confidence consider him you fill the position he Do of knowledge, such of his of the 8: to entitle employers! competent to applied for! Dated FORM as Signed information letter brings the exact required instead whom it may concern" useless "To type of reply. photograph of the applicanton the reference letter lessens the This general and Pasting a of gettingan possibility opinion on the wrong man HOW 56 TO Through (1) since skilled already men in the men employed are likelyto " line same in their the best workmen know HELP GET lines and own Usually it is shops in which they work. If they are satisfied with enough to ask them. the shop conditions,they will persuade their friends to make application. ment (2) Through your foremen, if their judgfrom and freedom personal bias can be the in the other They know the foremen and chanics. good meshops if they are wide-awake Not infrequently they will hear of a has been laid who thoroughly good workman off because orders are failing,or is dissatisfied he is working under which with the conditions or living. (3 Machinery houses usually have lists of their lathes,planers, able to handle mechanics universal chines milling machines, woodworking matrusted. and so on. the advertising in newspapers, not caring to manufacturing concern average of for workmen publicly in the market appear certain type. Unless or press of orders any enlargements of equipment supply the reason, public advertisingusually creates uneasiness mands employees or prompts them to make deamong based the putative necessity of the on Blind (4) to retain company (5) either Standing those or an offer place it is every return services. lists of local who have from their have made announced your to their concern available, rectly application dimen themselves when to open a you have such a list, liking. In handling with individuals well to keep in touch of a thirty days through the medium postal. HOW 58 TO HELP GET advantagesof the low wage scale. and expert meNew chanics, England tool makers for example, will not settle in any of the smaller cities west of Pittsburghexcept on an agreement to pay their moving bills and to send them back cost free should employment fail within a year or good reason satisfaction arise for disficulty their part. To balance the difon in securing skilled men, however, the small town offers the unquestionedadvantage laborers who of a stable supply of intelligent and machine are handy men operators in the out the raw. Since it is the amount and of work number potential employers,the livingconditions housing facilities, rents,price of necessities, school facilities and local transportation establish local market which conditions,the knows the about an more employment man general and factory situation where an applicant has been employed, the better bargain he of " " is able to make with him. The man have may been working in a which on or one nature of the factoryunfavorablylocated physical conditions or the product set an artificialvalue on his ability. The market may have been faminefor men stricken,due to a temporary demand in his trade,or the management incompetent to fixingwages. correlate may have the elements been rightly The antithesis of this,of course, is the concrete advantagesthe employment agent is able for the persuasion of a mechanic to marshal who is desirable. When the local market, reinforcing your internal supply,is inadequate factoryor officeneeds for skilled men, the is to other industrial centers only recourse of course, with an eye to the largest selected, to " available number of such men as you want and for their services. local demand the current 59 WORKMEN OUT-OF-TOWN reaching and working these foreign which may be there are several methods fields, used singlyor in conjunction, depending on the In extensiveness and urgency demands. of your ing touchHere, too,the standingof your company working conditions and treatment of men, tions of employment, the livingcondithe stability school facilities of your town, the general cost of livingand the nature of your and sellingpointsfor the of the workmen influencing you seek,or on the contrary,negative arguments which you must ing Followin your handling of them. overcome local labor market are some with of ways them all gettinginto tion communica- : A standinglistof applicants.If your supply is never quiteadequate,it is well (1) local are to list every skilled man keep in constant touch who writes to you, and with him by means of a 'Hickler'' every which file, sendinghim a return postalcard thirtydays the signing and mailing of " signifythat he is still open to a sional proposition.For an industryrequiringoccadrafts on out-of-town markets, I know other method at once no factory. so cheap and satisThe tickler" cards can be splitup all the days of the month, the double among postalcan bear a printedform and the work of addressingand dating can be performed in a few minutes each day. In making up this standing file of applicants, will *^ it is not to necessary satisfyyourselfthat the man and that he has to leave his for do more probably is good reason present employment a than sirable de- for wishing or to being out of work. Looking up references is a thing to be avoided, both it involves correspondencewhich may count ac- his cause bebe HOW 60 TO GET because wholly profitless and man it is because the to exhaust HELP never can you the use to the appliinjustice cant patienceof his sponsors or an former employers. Acknowledge every letter, however, whether the writer impresses you or not, for the name of the house can easilysuffer through a man who been has explicitin plainly,and the At ignored. time same the state your answer, make statement no be situation which can in be twisted by the recipient'sfancy any way have him into a promise of work or you may presenting himself before you within a week. File your out-of-town have followed skilled file for hired them more at a by occupations.I cards by men of means ^^ a ler" tick- year, and in the end total cost of less than half a than a dollar. **Want (2) Choose ads" one in or out-of-town cities more papers. news- having dustries in- similar to your own, and insert a blind from three to six times explainadvertisement ing exactly what kind of men you want, the your industry and city offer to skilled workers, the cost of living wages paid,the advantages Make your announcement have attractive;it must appeal to the kind of sellingquality to man you're hunting and stir his interest to the address. point of writing to your newspaper Secure and of the paper you intend to use, the premake vailing your *'ad" different from white the of either use by type space or some Use a copy other method the **want the town of ad" display. medium or mediums of the penny you've selected paper by preferenceand an evening sheet. Be careful not to overstate your case or promise permanent for only employment if you want men Absolute three or six months. honesty in this " 61 WORKMEN OUT-OF-TOWN the newspapers respond to your **ad" and corall answers to forward with the writers directly. regard is imperative. Order (3) Advertising in trade papers. For highgrade machinists,tool-makers,electricians and smiths, engineers,the machinery papers; for blackmolders, and other iron tool-hardeners, workers, the iron trade papers; for cabinet and machine makers, pattern makers ators, operthe wood-working journals. of foreignmarkets. canvass (4) Personal need If you quickly,the to the road and to interview insertion send yourselfor and cities least at as a them is to take competent man fore- workers. engage paign, for the "want ad "cam- of you for twenty-four hours before *Vant send want effective method most Select your and in numbers men ads" ahead in the shops your arrival in the cityso that men and so will have time to talk your visit over give it wider publicityand perhaps persuade gation. that the opening is worth investiTell what and name your you want another one hotel and the hours when can you If you twice as be need may you secure tasks demand. and evening seen. ten or workers many you during the day dozen a tool makers or in other trades, for instance, visit three just the or kind four towns fore be- of workers the (5) Direct advertisingand general public in the case of important industries advertising situated away from the great labor markets. It has been found profitable to advertise at tolerably regularintervals in these latter centers, and follow up all applicantsby means of a "tickler" filelike that described industries and are always in tool makers need and of above. Such chanics superiorme- for the usual local HOW 62 GET TO HELP supply they are compelled to create a foreign vertising, supply just as staple. In the way of direct adthey use booklets describingand picturing factory living conditions,giving their wage scale and piece-work rates and other information likelyto interest workmen of intelligence.These are distributed in various sometimes by the sellingagenciesin ways, industrial (7) the centers. country. of good need A Threat some of strike,also,frequently a tory from the facaway reallytakes form, since the best mechanics before the trouble run As these may apply names of men may chance to (8) throw places rather up their risks of being connected they prefer to than in slump throughout ploying industry em- release scores your kind of men may when you workmen at the very moment them. drives conditions of labor Study scatter,one men to you dozen a be or in person. secured who From will ''jump before they Names supplied by other cities who every and mechanic have is a ''made fair more other twenty or with are a out. walk- of them him the high-grade welcome the pushed." workmen good." from Since type of his associates his who man friends, the new proves abilitycan be used by the employment office in the search of skilled men. Usually, if he is tions satisfied with his working and living condiand wages, he is only too glad to advertise the fact to friends in his last factory. If you of his stamp, ask him to write need more men ters to these friends. By judicious coaxing his letbe made to state conditions exactlyas can they are, and only the final letter engaging the other man need be written by the employment dispensable agent. References, in such cases, are not inthe type of your first workman " OUT-OF-TOWN WORKMEN 63 l| "^ .^ 4" -^ " o ri e 53 J^ .e cs (U j" "1 " 2 c 11 -a - o 6:^ 2 si! age ^S t' u ill il"" 1 Qi 6 HOW 64 giving method This the reasonable a you from if your the greatest value his services. (9) frequently help a the men be on pecially ; es- superior the again able In it can't which will is of to command fields limited relations various the which in use of the and character it. If trustworthy so the or The lists the and use securing you have you will and tried of to mechanics of specialists of good the is labor man and certainly receive satisfactory. of The men. entirely him there cities employment class depends of knowledge proved activities their of been houses. of average every have the largest office favor former the between modate accom- the there not sire De- to return other cheap famine. a supplying experts types. agency all confine like comfortable agencies that technical to be usually prompt or will factory one may whether nearly agencies that large Employment worth. service the worker experiencing business (10) value to be men time previous little ought apart is good nature, and individual company at another are draw you list too another to to hardship a the wide so reserved a while works mates. with the superintendents Correspondence tories. facagents of out-of-town employment Conditions in differing industries are or have his on shop conditions But here higher. which to company line which rates your HELP som^etimes factory and GET TO on who found no the ducts con- him other
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