Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-05-09
THE UNpRoDUcT1VE EMpLoYE.

The following extract from paper read by whole
saler before business meeting in neghborng city
The gentleman said
want to speak of young Of my acquaintance and
the condition in which he found himself He of the in
Vulnerable OF employees in the service of wholesale cloth
ing house He to with his serious problems he had
been employed by this for three years he had received
small raise Of salary the end of the first year. and
ne was sideacked he thoughts hopeess stalled the
mighty gear and with prospects whatever for the future
lie came to ask whether he had not better give up his situation
and trust to luck to find something better urged against
such and told him to look for something better while
still holding his present situation He said he had tried that
for time, but he found himself restless said to hm
The most important thing for and for me- this MATTER
to ascertain first whether you paid all that you WORTH
and secondly whether make yourself worth any
you had better stick and look your raise
first fair opportunity He agreed with but said he could
not quite understand how that could be found said
hands absolutely for three months will guarantee that
sna oqh have an answer to that question He agreed and
went ahead Here my instructions to him. which apply
more Or less to every other employe:
for the first thirty days want you to put your
one thing ony drop all outside and focus your
uIe attention. thought and energy upon this question: By
what method which devise your house sell 100000
worth more every than they selling? Or $4,000
When have discovered your pan work all on paper
put down the figures in black and white verify every tem
TAKE the complete showing at favorable moment to the
MN plainly but modesy that you believe that the prosperity
your fortunes are in the boat that you hope may not
seem presumptuous that you should suggest reforms
OF but taa you are earnestly for the
Oh e BUSINESS II he decides that the idea not good
are sorry for having wasted his time, get as quickly
as you can Then go to work another idea.''
Ihrty days passed by, and he again His re-
port was short and sweet With all his thinking he had found
no method by which the business of the firm could be extended
even hundred dollars year then put him to work upon
his second months labor which was this: sSee whether Won
can discover method by which while losing no present adj
yanage or trade the firm transact its present volume Of
business with greater economy that by your improved
methods Of conducting the business there Shall be effected
saying OF $4,000 $4,000 year, $500 year. or
L
me to to work for thirty days on his proposition: but he
more or less manfu went through the stage of his
me with his report He had able to discover no new
whereby the firm could it's present system
NE e na a however, dscoyerd one thing namely that he would
not need go ahead for another thirty days with expert
ments for ne had made his mind that he he would
continue where he said to him:
$50 you don't for any more adyiceq Wa1 +1;s o
am going to give to you without your wanting f. NV how
realize for one moment where stand With the enor
doubted increase which be effected YOU are not able
you have worked three years this house. to increase the VOL
me OF s business one hundred dollars year, the eab-
crate and necessarily wasteu methods in that great bust
ness is transacted you enough to II TO b aha II
point out better system in department. whereby the small
last word OF advice and it is valuable advice Nv bow lie
low Attract just little attention yourself as Won can
in their e,noT q tat YOU have been three
lSOLUTELY UNPRODUCTIVE MAN If thew knew how
niue capable you are of development and they would
lse e low my boy Keep out of prominence as mich &c
you and go down knees and thank God that
you have got situation where you are paid all that Won arc
worth You simply sitting upon the head Of the ono b
man who sits in the counting He has to solve all these
problems " eoe
The went off sadder and wiser than b ,roo
The incident happened five years ago. but he holds tho ]
place today and at the same salary. ~ ''Dlle
found The H.
s ~ get his nan" the
n single S5s " Of ts