1943 Handbook - Eleven Tips on Getting More Efficiency Out of Women Employees About This Page:

[Heidi]

I couldn't stop laughing when I read this so I have to pass it on. Can you believe someone actually wrote this?!?!?

My favourite is 8!

1) If you can get them, pick young married women. They have these advantages: They usually have more of a sense of responsibility than their unmarried sisters; they're less likely to be flirtatious; as a rule, they need the work or they wouldn’t be doing it – maybe a sick husband or one who’s in the army; 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. Most companies have found that older women who have never contacted the public have a hard time adapting themselves and are inclined to be cantankerous and fussy. It’s always well to impress upon older women the importance of friendliness and courtesy. [img]graemlins/ukid.gif[/img]

3) While there are exceptions to this rule, general experience indicates that “husky” girls – those who are just a little on the heavy side – are likely to be more even-tempered and efficient than their underweight sisters.

4) Retain a physician to give each woman you hire a special physical examination – one covering female conditions. This step not only protects against the possibility of lawsuit but also reveals whether the employee to be has any female weaknesses which would make her mentally ( [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img] ) physically unfit for the job. Companies that follow this practice report a surprising number of women turned down for nervous disorders.

5) In breaking in women ( [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] ) who haven’t previously worked outside the home, stress the importance of time – the fact that a minute or two lost here and there makes serious inroads on schedules. Until this point is gotten across, service is likely to be slow.

6) Give the female employee a definite schedule of duties so that she’ll keep busy without bothering the management for instructions every few minutes. Numerous companies say that women make excellent workers when they have their jobs cut out for them but that they lack initiative in finding work themselves.

7) Whenever possible, let the employee change from one job to another at some time during the day. Women are inclined to be nervous and they’re happier with change.

8) Give every girl an adequate number of rest periods during the day. Companies that are already using large numbers of women stress the fact that you have to make some allowances for feminine psychology. A girl is more efficient if she can keep her hair tidied, apply fresh lipstick and wash her hands several times a day. [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img]

9) Be tactful in issuing instructions or in making criticisms. Women are sensitive; they can’t shrug off harsh words the way that men do. Never ridicule a woman – it cuts her efficiency.

10) Be considerate about using strong language around women. Even though a girl’s husband or father may swear vociferously, she’ll grow to dislike a place of business where she hears to much of this.

11) Get enough size variety in uniforms so that each girl can have a proper fit. This point can’t be stressed to strongly as a means of keeping women happy.

[ 04-05-2003, 09:58 PM: Message edited by: Heidi ]

[reinstructor]

I don't think I'll even comment on this one. [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]

[DVC_Don]

Originally posted by reinstructor:
I don't think I'll even comment on this one. [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]

<font size="2" face="Comic Sans MS, Arial">[img]graemlins/ukid.gif[/img] I'm right behind you Dennis.

[Heidi]

Chickens........ [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Obviously it is WAY out of date but sure makes for some funny reading.

[chezp]

Where did you find this? [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img] Thanks for sharing it with us!

Cheryl

[AKLRULZ]

Just whisteling on by this topic with the other gents...

[Colexis Mom]

[img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] Thank goodness times have changed!! That was a nice history lesson though!!

[GoofyMom]

Ack! [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] Did they really think of women like that back then? Jeez, I think I would have been T-R-O-U-B-L-E! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

Oh, gotta go, my nerves are bothering me! [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]

[ 04-06-2003, 12:43 PM: Message edited by: GoofyMom ]

[DVC_Don]

Originally posted by Dad2jbj:
Just whisteling on by this topic with the other gents...

<font size="2" face="Comic Sans MS, Arial">Again, no comment on the original content, but can you imagine what would have happened here if one of us "guys" had posted this? Too gruesome to contiplate. [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]

[tikibird]

As an Human Resources professional, my TOES are curling at this! [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] Thank goodness for labor law! (Although, I may have to try the lipstick thing - perhaps that will make me more efficient at work! I know, lipstick and hand lotion and PERFUME! That should do the trick!) [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]

[DVC_Don]

Back in the early to mid 1960's, my parents had a business with about 20 employees. 2 of them were women who also drove school buses. They would work between their runs. There was a federal rule/law that women could not work more than 40 hours. Well, they worked 40 hours for my parents and also worked for the bus company. My parents got in trouble and were fined for knowingly letting them work more than 40 hours per week. I remember my parents hiring a lawyer and trying to stay out of court over that.

[Cindy B]

This is too too funny! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] And even funnier is how all the gentlemen have just strolled on by!! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[stonewall]

Thanks for taking the time to post this.Wow!! [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]

[pflamingo]

Originally posted by Heidi:
3) ...general experience indicates that “husky” girls...are likely to be more even-tempered and efficient than their underweight sisters.

<font size="2" face="Comic Sans MS, Arial">'kay, so when I was thin, I was moody and inefficient, but when I got fat... Oh, wait, I know, 'cause chubby chicks aren't thinking about men, so they can focus on the job!

4) Retain a physician to give each woman you hire a special physical examination – one covering female conditions. This step not only protects against the possibility of lawsuit but also reveals whether the employee to be has any female weaknesses which would make her mentally ( [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img] ) physically unfit for the job. Companies that follow this practice report a surprising number of women turned down for nervous disorders.

<font size="2" face="Comic Sans MS, Arial">Laugh if you want, but not so long ago (like, less than 10 years), I was watching Cokie Roberts interview some big Army General, who said that women were unfit for combat because they're too mentally unstable at "certain times of the month" (and what, might shoot their own troops? can we say "friendly fire"?), and are prone to certain "infections" in the trenches. Dan Quayle (remember him?) said something along the same lines.

8) Give every girl an adequate number of rest periods during the day. Companies that are already using large numbers of women stress the fact that you have to make some allowances for feminine psychology. A girl is more efficient if she can keep her hair tidied, apply fresh lipstick and wash her hands several times a day.

<font size="2" face="Comic Sans MS, Arial">'scuse me. My "feminine psychology" requires that I go put on some lipstick now, to go with my Sunday sweatpants!

It just scares me that someone not only thought this, but put it in writing! Apparently, many people thought this. All I can say is, "Thank you, Gloria Steinem!"

[ariel1]

[img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]