Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-12-08
Hiring Help by the Hour.


A CORRESPONDENT writes; 81 have tried
the system of hiring help ON the farm by
the hour, as recommended by you. | find
it pays. I keep three men-usually one
by the month The men hire by the day
usually have families TO support. When
paid them by the day, without any un-
derstanding as to the length of the day,
they arrived late or early, as was most
convenient for them. Now that pay by
the hour, they generally want to work
full as many hours as | need them; but II
they do not, they know that they will get
paid for only the work they doi and if
they do not regard my wishes somewhat,
working until the work is accomplished,
they feel very certain that will hire some
one who will stick by me; and | find men
are more willing TO accomplish all the
work, regardless Of the number Of hours,
if they are sure of being paid proportion
ately, as they are by the hour system. |
think we shall adopt the same rule in ref
erence to household help 1t requires a
little time to break in and make laborers
understand it; but when they do, they like
it better and so do |.
This system of employing by the hour
/ is being adopted in many industries which
have hitherto been ruled by the adherents
of the ten-hour or eighthOur system. A
farmer hires a carpenter alta given price
per day He works eight or ten hours
only, when he might work twelve. The
work is pressing, but he knows that if he
puts in two or three extra hours work the
farmer will not expect to pay for it ; but
if he is paid by the hour he makes more
hours wages per day, accomplishes the
work in fewer days, saves the farmer the
extra board, and is of, out Of the way,
doing job for some one else.
" A laborer is worthy of his hire So
he is but the employer who pays money
for labor is also entitled to his moneys
worth at market rates. The days are now
short, and the evenings long. Hired men
who pick apples all day, or dig potatoes
etc, are not always willing to go into tho
barn after supper and husk corn two ol
three hours But II they know that eacl
hours labor adds to the cash they will re
ceive they will work rs late rs the employ
er wishes
So it is said woman's work neve
ends--especially on a farm. And this il
one reason why girls object to doins
housework there. But if girl who rise
at five in the morning and works till min,
or ten o'clock at night, knows she will b
paid for that work, she will do it NOR
cheerfully; and if she knows that tn
T time she spends fashioning, washing an,
ironing her own frills and furbelows, vii
be taken out of her wages, she will spenC
less time at them; or, if not, know that
is her own.
The more man accomplishes for an
, other in an hour, the more the employe
can afford to pay him. 1t is as easy &
regulate the rate of wages per hour as pc
, day. And, Of course, it can be stipulate
!, what number of hours a man shat work
nee ssary. This hour system, therefore
equalizes things more justly. If a ma
. chooses to take two hours for his dinner
he must lose two hours wages. The ca
, ing is for his own benetit-to enable him 1
: do an hours work and earn the money o
! fered him, just as a man buys tools in o
! der to be able to build house for anothe
!, And this system will apply to the ma
!, who works by the month, as well as {
. others. Let the number of days of II ce
:. tain number of hours each, that shall COZ
/. stitute a months work, be agreed upon
q but let it be stipulated that if extra hour
g work are required, they shall be performe
v and paid for pro rdtd. There is no nee
! of confusion or discord. Let the day
= time be recorded every night after mutu
:, consultation. So as to the work of ii
- house servants. 1t is not Il difficult sy
~ TEN to adopt, nor to follow after it
~ adopted, when it becomes thorough
" comprehended -RajaJ Nelc XorEer