The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1910-02-04
WORKERS PENSIONS,
System of the International Har.
vester Company.
PROVIDES FOR EMPLOYEES.

Company Assumes Payment Of Full
Amount Of Pensions, and No Con-
tribution Is Required of Men-PIan
and Amount of Payment.
Two years ago the International
system which, the officers declare, has
given the employer and employee much
satisfaction, says the Chicago Even
ing Post. Fifty men and one woman
already are on the list, drawing from
$1S to 500 month. The system was
put into effect Sept. /, 1908.
when the Harvester company de-
cided to adopt a pension a most ex-
haustive study was made of the ques-
tton," said G. A. Ranney, one of the
organizers and at present a trustee of
the pension fund. 1.-THE most impor-
tant point was settled when we were
Informed by the officers that the COM
pany would assume the payment of
the full amount of the pensions and no
contribution would be necessary from
the men,"
In making its announcement Of the
establishment of its pension system
the Harvester company issued the fol-
lowing statement:
1.-THE directors establish the pension
fund as an evidence of appreciation Of
the fidelity, efficiency and loyalty of
their employees and have approved
the following plans as the best and
most liberal for those who by long
and faithful service have earned an
honorable retirement"
This states in few words the policy
of the company. Following are the
eligibility rules laid down by the COM
pany:
"(a) All employees of this company
and of subsidiary and affiliated compa-
MES engaged in any capacity are eligi-
BILE to pensions as hereinafter stated.
"D) All male employees who shall
have reached the age of sixty-five
years and have been twenty or more
years in the service may at their own
request or at the discretion of the
pension board be retired from active
service and become eligible to a pen
sion.
"(c) All male employees who have
been twenty or more years in the serv-
ice shall be retired at the age Of sew
enty years, on the first day of the cal
endar month following that in which
they shall have attained said age, I'M
less, at the discretion of the pension
board, some later date be fixed for
such retirement. Persons occupying
executive positions are exempt from
maximum age limit.
ed All female employees who shall
have reached the age of fifty years
and have been twenty or more years
in the service may, at their own re-
quest or at the discretion of the pen
sion board, be retired from active
service and become eligible to pen
sion.
"(e) All female employees shall be
retired at the age Of sixty years, on
the first day of the calendar month
following that in which they shall
have attained the age, unless, at the
discretion of the pension board, later
date be fixed for such retirement.
Persons occupying executive positions
are exempt from maximum age limit. "
In computing the length of service
of an employee allowance is made for
time lost on account of sickness or
periods during which certain depart
ments have been shut down on &C.
count of repairs or inventory. A tenn
porary layoff on account of these rea-
sons which does not exceed six con-
secutive months is not deducted from
the total length of service. In other
words, if one of the men was sick
for, say, four months in any one year
he would be given credit for full
years service. The subject of the
total length of service is important,
for the two conditions on which a
pension is granted are the number of
years the employee has served the
company and the amount of his aver
age wages each year for the ten years
next preceding retirement.
To illustrate, If the average pay per
year for the last ten years of service
equals 5000 and If the service has been
continuous for twenty-five years, the
pension would be 25 per cent Of 5000,
or $3.50 per year, or $3.50 per month.
Since the minimum pension has been
fixed at $1S per month, then to this
regular percentage $3.50 would be
added, making the minimum SIS.
toh ho hno ri
to be well pleased with is the rule
which provides that the board has
power to continue the pensions to
widow or other dependent members of
the family If in it's judgment the cir
cumstances warrant its continuance,
and the board also holds the right to
give the money to some member OF
the family If it is found that it is not
being expended for the purpose in
tended-to maintain the family.
Another provision of the pension sys-
tenn which is considered to be the most
liberal adopted by any concern is the
announced permission that the COM
pany gives to pensioner to do what
he pleases after retiring. The accept
ance Of a pension thus does not pre-
vent an employee from securing EN-
ployment elsewhere, provided 1t is not
prejudicial to the interests Of the COM
pany. The granting Of pension. how
ever, absolutely bars further employ
ment with the company.
In cases where an employee has not
reached the pensionable age, but has
worked faithfully twenty years OF