The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1883-07-04
Consideration for Old Employees.


Physical vigor and mental activity
are necessary in all kinds of employ
ment and all sorts of business. Lack
ing either, the man is, in some degree
incompetent. The cases are exception
alwhore profitable employment is fitted
to the infrm, whether physically weak
or mentally slow. And yet there are
cases where employment and occupa-
ton should be given to such persons,
not alone as matter of policy-to pre-
vent mental and bodily injury-but as
q duty. An employe who has spent
the vigor of his best years In the serv-
ice of an employer deserves something
more in his last years than cold neglect.
Even the turning out of an old horse
to die is a subject for attention by the
officers of humane societies.
IF any employe is of any value what
ever, he ought to earn for his employer
something above his stipend; in fact,
the labor of employees, combined with
cumulate for the employer compe-
tency, if not actual wealth. The wealth
thus gathered represents, in part, the
excess of the value of the labor per-
formed above the amount that has been
paid to the laborers. Although the
employe has no right to demand more
than the agreed sum as wages, or sal
ary, which he receives, the fact remains
that the wages, or salary, may not rep
resent the proceeds of his work in full.
This fact may not constitute even q
moral claim by the employe for any
thing beyond his regular compensation
under any circumstances. 1t may be
that the compensation was sufficient to
have placed the employe, in his old age
or feebleness, in condition of compar-
ative independence, but he may have
neglected to provide for the inevitable
rainy day. Employers have no special
supererogatory duties toward employees
of this class. Nor is it, perhaps, incum-
bent on them to pension off old en-
ployes, as Governments sometimes do
public servants. The circumstances
will alter the cases. 1t is not to be ex-
pected that employing establishments
or individuals are to become insurers
| against the decrepitude of old age and
its attendant incompetency. But the
| dictates of humanity and the demands
| of business policy may so far go har-
moniously together as to prevent the
too common spectacle of an old, faith,
full employe deprived not only of q
| position of profit because of inability,
but of occupation adapted to his failing
| powers. There are few sadder sights
than this, and pity for the unfortunate
| man and detestation for his thoughtless
or perhaps ayaricious employer is fell
by every spectator.
| As men grow old in any particular
service their business ways and worI
/ habits become fixed, and all the sur
/ roundings of their secular days en-
| ployments become more familiar to then
| than their home life. 1t is like casting
| them adrift without rudder, oars, ol
chart to turn out old employees under
such circumstances. Who has not fell
/ q pity for some superannuated employs
thus set adrift, as he has noticed him
returned occasionally to his old haunts
and looking about wistfully on scenes
of which he once formed necessar,
part, but in which he is now only al
incumbrance and a disturbing element
Too old to start anew in another line
and possessing none of the hopefulnes
of youth and the ambition of mid-age
he becomes disheartened, melancholy
and perhaps imbecile, until death step
in to his relief.
There is a large manufactory in .
New England State that for more thar
thirty years has been running with pc
cuniary success, employing young an,
old, male and female, in its various de
partments. When business has beer
dull and the markets unstable, worl
has been reduced and wages shortened
as was necessary to prevent fnancia
disaster. But good employees wer,
kept, if possible, even in the dulles
times. There never was strike, no
threat of one, in this establishment
Among other humane practices an,
considerate measures for the comfor
and well-being of their employees, tn
company keep their hands even whel
old and improbable. There is one oil!
man, now more than eighty, who ha
worked faithfully for the best part o
his vigorous manhood, for the compa
n.y. He still works-not, however, full
hours-and his employment is of s.
trifiing character that but for the cir
cumstances it would be ludicrous. Blu
the old man is proud of his employer
and that he is still able to work, and i
living happy, contented life, believin.
that he is Independent of charity ami
that he is still useful, If not necessary
to his employers. This is an exampl
that might properly be followed b,
others.-Scie',tifc Anlericdn.