Evening star., 1916-10-21
PROFIT TOBUS|NESS
FROM HALF HOLIDAY
Advantages in Saturday Res
pite Cited by Corporation
Which Granted Privilege.
GOVERNMENT CLERKS PLEA

& How a big corporation surprised its
employees by granting year-round
Saturday half holiday, and at the end
of the first year publicly testified that
vt had proved a profitable innovation,
is cited as an illustration of what a
Saturday half holiday throughout the
year might effect in government serv-
ice. a
The testimony of that corporation.
given In its annual report. that the en-
thusiasm and business zeal aroused in
the employees through the granting of
= the half holiday is quoted by gov
ernment clerk, who is interested in the
proposal made by Samuel Gompers.
president of the American Federation
| of Labor, to President Wilson and re-
I ferred for cabinet advice. that the
year-round Saturday half holiday
& should be allowed the thousands of
government employees.
This clerk argues that the extension
of the half holiday would result in the
employment of more efficient methods
, for transacting government business
and that the federal employees would be
encouraged to make time-saving sug
Eestions by which the government
would benefit directly. This, he thinks,
would more than recompense the gov
ernment for any additional expense
that might temporarily be incurred in
granting the holiday extension.
One Reason for Holiday.
lone of the reasons why many en-
pIoyers find it practical to grant Sat
urday half holidays throughout the
year. not to mention a summer vaca-
tion Of from two to four weeks and
legal holidays, which in some states
number ten and twelve annually,
against seven in the District, is be-
cause of the adoption of efficient meth
ods and the elimination of waste work
in the conduct of their business" this
employe said. "Subordinates in govern
ment offices, if not superiors. are well
aware that much time is wasted in
following antiquated methods in the
performance of office work and that
time-saving ways could be employed
that would fully compensate for the
granting of Saturday half holidays
during the entire year.
Requiring highly efficient employees
asst does. yet Indifferent to the adop-
Hon of more efficient methods of doing
business. the government derives but
small measure. Of the benefits 1t should
obtain as a result of the civil service
Law. which apparently was designed to
abolish the troublesome and pickering
spoils system of appointment rather
expenses of the departments. The
granting of Saturday half holidays
throughout the year would not neces-
sarily put the work of the departments
in arrears. but it would require i'm
provement in office routine. The time
lost by clerks in one bureau copying
forms that the management neglects
to have reprinted when the copies be-
come exhausted more than equals the
time required for a half holiday, and is
but one instance where time could be
saved by the elimination Of unneces-
sary work.
Corporations Circular Letter.
The following circular letter issued
by a large corporation and giving the
reasons for closing its Offices the year
round on Saturday afternoon may be
of timely interest:
Under authority of the board Of
trustees, announcement is made that
until further notice all Offices of the
company will be closed on Saturdays
throughout the year at pm. Luncheon
is not to be taken on Saturdays until
after the closing hour and it is re-
quested that the full time from 9
o'clock to ] be given to the company's
business, so that the company may not
suffer from allowing the afternoons
to the employees for recreation, exer-
else. shopping or other diversion
The company appreciates the high
character of it's people. their devotion
to its service and their interest in its
prosperity. Its plan for an extra dis
tribution from the profits to its older
employees at the end of each year makes
it still more desirable for both the
company and its employees that nothing
be left undone to improve the efficiency
of its. service, the economy and good
use of its time and the holding of its
clients by courtesy. ability and the
greatest possible he1pfulness
ITO that end it is requested that
promptness in beginning work be'prac-
ticed every morning, and that :he re-
csss for luncheon be not stretched or
taken SO as to interfere with ones
work.
Came as Pleasing Surprise.
The above announcement came as
pleasant surprise at the end of the
employees were expecting to resume
working full time on Saturday. In the
Offices of this company. where nearly
..oo0 people are employed. a seven
hour day is in effect. and in addition
10 Saturday half holidays the year
round. the employees receive ten legal
holidays, and many three weeks Of va
cation.
In it's current annual report an
nouncing the extension of its profit
sharing plan this company took oc-
casion to express its appreciation of
the employees good will in the follow
ing words:
The question often is asked as to
why our company has succeeded in the
title insurance business where so
many others have failed. great deal
of this success must be credited to
the enthusiastic help that we have re-
ceived from our employees. This en-
thusiasm does not stop with the OFF,
GERS, heads of departments and those
who come in contact with the general