The Washington herald., 1915-12-22
Enployas.

Il ~ SOMU =. UAAAIs
1 The other day an employer talked with me
about the difficulties he was experiencing in Sc
curing men. at is almost impossible for me to
get men that can do their work properly" he
said. He pointed to the next room where a
dozen youths were busy at desks. "MoA of those
are incompetent" he went "If could get
the same number of men that really could do the
work should be willing to pay them twice the
salary" Then he delivered speech on the alb
Isurdity of most of the prcsent-day talk against
capital. In its treatment of labor. "Why. the trouble
s." he insisted. "there isn't enough labor in the
world, that is intelligent and willing labor. Most
of the so-ealled labor nowadays is incompetent.
Men are unwilling to work and they are stupid"
II happened that l knew one of the men that
worked for this employer. ! asked him what he
thought Of those opinions He burst out laugh
ing. "Why, this place is kind Of school" he
said. "Men are continually leaving here TO take
other jobs in the same line of work where they
can get more money. The boss is continually let
ting good men go for the simple reason that he's
too short-sighted to see how valuable they are"
|, 1 made inquiries about this employers method
VI ucAHHB Win MS SuDOIQudtCs. IOuuu tu4t IN
nearly every instance his workers were young men.
At first ! supposed that he was believer in
youth, its eagerness and its energy. Suen, now
ever, proved not to be the case. He employed
young men because they were content to work for
comparatively small salaries Where they had only
themselves to support they could live in COM
fort and could dress we'll; but soon they be-
gan to think of getting married they round them
selves involved in grave problem. There were
all those expenses ahead, housekeeping for two,
and later for others. with doctors bills and all the
inevitable items of family. 1t was those items
that this employer wished to dodge. He COM
planned because he could not secure exceptional
ability in those inexperienced workers who would
take less than living wage for family man.
In talking about subordinates employers often
forget that the fault may lie in themselves Nearly
every man who has succeeded can look back upon
experiences that might have been disheartenns, |
directly resulting from the failure of employers to
recognize good work when they see it and to give
It fair compensation. One Of the ablest and most |
successful men of my acquaintance discharged |
from a responsible position few years ago on the |
ground of un6tness The blow considerably DAM |
aged his confidence. He came very near going |
INTO another line of work that he was plainly un-
suited to.
There are employers who think it is good
plan for them to keep down their men, that is, to
seep the men "in their place" So they never give
On the contrary they se.ze every
opportunity for fault finding. In this way they
weaken the incentive to good work and to ambi-
ion. Then they take patronizing tone and COM
,lain of ineAiciency and lack OF interest
1t is only the exceptional employer who is
lever enough to see that a good worker is an
sset and that the best way to secure full value
rom the worker is by liberal treatment.
have Just heard Of an eccentric employer who
axes his men off on occasional outings. His COM
'etitors like to laugh at him. But he thinks he
las the laugh on them. He knows that his per-
onal relation with the makes them work all
he harder. "When am away he says. Il don't
eel any worry. I know that the men will work
ust as hard, if not harder" !,
This case is different from that of another en- ,
loyer who is known slave-driver. He has
1ade himself detested by his employees. They take {
leasure in doing him up whenever they can When !
e is not about they waste good deal of time,
tanding in groups and giving him abuse. 8
IL