11
Tips on How to Handle
Women Employees
The
following is an excerpt from the July 1943 issue of Transportation
Magazine. This was quite serious at its time and written for
male supervisors of women in the work force during World War
II during the 1940s. Obviously, the intent was not to be
"funny," but by today's standards, this is hilarious!
For those of you with efficiency issues, pay attention to
#8.
There is no longer any question whether transit 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 eleven helpful tips on the subject:
1.
Pick young married women. They usually have more of a sense
of responsibility than their unmarried sisters. They are less
likely to be flirtatious. They need the work, or they would
not be doing it. 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 cantankerous and fussy. It is always well
to impress upon older women, the importance of friendliness
and courtesy.
3. General experience
indicates that "husky" girls - those who are just
a little on the heavy side - are 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
the property against the possibilities of lawsuit, but also
reveals whether the employee-to-be has any female weaknesses
that would make her mentally or physically unfit for the job.
5.
Stress, at the outset, 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 slowed up.
6.
Give the female employee a definite daylong schedule of duties
so that they will keep busy without bothering the management
for instructions every few minutes. Numerous properties 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 inside employee change from one job
to another at some time during the day. Women are inclined to
be less nervous and happier with change.
8.
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.
9.
Be tactful when issuing instructions or in making criticisms.
Women are often sensitive; they cannot shrug off harsh words
the way men do. Never ridicule a woman - it breaks her spirit
and cuts off her efficiency.
10. Be reasonably
considerate about using strong language around women. Even though
a girl's husband or father may swear vociferously, she will
grow to dislike a place of business where she hears too much
of this.
11. Get enough
size variety in operator's uniforms so that each girl can have
a proper fit. This point cannot be stressed too much in keeping
women happy. |