Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-03-17
RET0RT C0MPANY'S
INSURANCE PLAN
PROVES SUCCESS
FIRST POLICY rs PAID TO JOHN
WOLFE FAMILY UNDER OTTA.
WA iNDUSTRY'S BENEVOLENT
SCHEME TO AID EMPLOYEES.

During the past summer the Chica-
60 Retort & Fire Brick Co., probably
Ottawa's foremost manufacturing en-
tcrprise, announced that they had
adopted system OF insurance for the
benefit of their employees, which
would cost the men nothing, directly
or indirectly, but was direct gift as
a reward for continued and faithful
service.
The policies taken out on the men
were what is known as Group Life
Insurance, tie amount of the policies
beginning at $3.50 and increasing auto
matically as man remained in the
employ of the company, until the
amount OF $3.50 was reached. The
length Of time a man was in the EN-.
ploy of the company was to be the
governing feature of the amount Of
tho policy, not the position occupied.
There was no assessment or retention
Of part OF the wages of the men, but
the policies are direct gifts made to
the men as q reward for working con-
tinuously and faithfully for the COM
pany. The company pays all pre-.
miums and locks alter the insurance
themselves.
Among the employees OF the com.
pa,y at the time the insurance feature
was put into effect was John Wolfe.
He had been and continued to be an
employee of the company until he was
stricken down with ws.at proved to be
his last illness. Tse insurance was
taken care of by the company, and al
tho Mr.. Wolfe was i'll for scme time
before his death, which occurred on
gebruary 2Sth last, tie policy was
kept in full force and effect. Today
the Company turned over to his bene-
ficaries check for S350Nt, the
length of time he had been in the en-
ploy of the company since the feature
was adopted, making his policy reach
that amount.
Volunteer Wage Increase.
This is but one manner in which
the company recognizes and expresses
their appreciation of continuous ald
faithful service from tlieir employees
They also have a system by which a
bonus is given the men who work
steadily, not missing e day or any
portion of day during the week To
man working full time for the week,
gift of substantial proportion or
his wages is added the following week.
Another indication Of the Hberallty
Of the company to its employees is
the fact that about the first OF next
month a purely voluntary increase OF
FIVE per cent will be made in the
wages of the employees.
Recognize Faithfulness.
! The growth of the Chicago Retort
l. 4 ire Brick Company has been al.
most phenomenal and they have even
recognized the faithfulness Of tneir
employees as d contributing feature
The insurance feature, although one OF
considerable expense to the company
Is to be continued. and of course, the
fact that a man has been and remains
long in the employ Of the company be
comes an asset to the man and to his
heirs after his death. This feature Is
in no way an accident proposition, MOI
one which relieves the company IL
any way from the usual employers
liability. Of course, il death should
result from an accident this insur
ance feature would be in effect, bu
this feature is one of life insuranc,
pare and simple and, as in the presen
case. is effective in case the employee
dies natural death after an illness.