The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-07-22

44eiS llOI OHly leu LIle cOIIlpdny lO go farther than any predecessor in work ing out a complete program of pro
 tection, but also has resulted in the
 companys assuming the risk itself by
 the setting aside of sufficient reserve funds. There Is no outside insur-
 ance company concerned in the Acco
 plan in any way, but on the contrary
 It Is 100 per cent. a matter between the company and it's workers.
 The plan in outline was first dis closed to the foremen of the York plant at a meeting some days ago, at which time Walter B. Lashar, presi-
 dent of the American Chain Com
 pany, addressed them informally. The men were invited to suggest improve
 ments and alterations in the outlines
 and a number of these suggestions
 have been written into the plan.
 One of the innovations in the Acco
 plan, which 1t is felt will attract a
 great deal of attention throughout
 America, Is the extension of an-
 nual vacation with pay to all em-
 ployees of the company. In most
 American concerns this privilege is
 reserved for office workers and exec utive staff, the rest of the factory be-
 ing considered on a time" basis.
 Under the Acco plan all members of
 the society are to be put on the va
 cation basis, this being part of the program not only of insurance
 against i'll health, but of positive steps to protect and build up health.
 Along the same line the company will work out a vacation bureau, to guide and help Its employees in the matter of getting the most out of their vacations, finding the most sat isfactory resort, making the most advantageous ara ngements for 1 travel, and in general, placing at their disposal the services of an ex- pert vacation bureau. There will be | this difference from the ordinary l however, that it will work solely for the benefit of the vacatloner and not | to promote railroad or steamship line or pleasure resort.
 Along the same line 1t Is the pur- pose of the company to employ a
 number of competent graduate nurses who will be at the service of every member of the society for ad- vice and assistance on medical and health matters and who will make a speciality of health service in the homes.
 Another feature of the Acco plan that Is bound to attract general at tention is the provision for birth ben efits. It Is a. peculiar coincidence that while such Q plan was actually being worked out in practice by the Ameri- can Chain Company, the Peace Con ference in Paris was recommending the study of this subject as an in4por- tant social institution for the benefit Of the world, and such a recommend alton is included in the Peace Treaty. The Acco plan provides a two weeks advance attendance of doctor and nurse upon the expectant mother, fol- lowed by a similar attendance as long as may be necessary after the birth. While the doctor and nurse will be in the company employ, arrangements will be made with a. number of doc tors and nurses in York and vicinity so as to afford the parents a range of choice.
 In addition to this medical service. a cash payment of S25 accompanies each birth, to provide the necessary clothes for the baby and to meet other expenses incidental to such oc- casions.
 While the worlmen's Compensa- ton act in this and other states safe guards the worker against the aeci- dents of his trade, he has no protec- ton but his own against sickness, and it is to relieve this situation that the Sick Benefit feature of the Acco plan has been worked out.
 Under this plan every member of the Society is entitled to payment of q sick benefit of s2 a working day, beginning on the fourth day of his illness. The extent to which this pay
 nent continues is dependent upon the length of time in which the patient has been in the employ of the Ameri- can Chain Company.
 A person who has just entered the service of the company is paid the benefit during the time of his sick ness, up to a period of twelve weeks. A person one year in the service of the company can get a maximum sick benefit of 16 weeks payment, and so on, up to the employee who has been 10 years in the service of the com pany and is entitled to sick benefit up to 52 weeks, or a full year.
 In cases where the Sick Benefit and the Workmen's Compensation act come into operation together, both payments are not made but the patti ent gets whichever payment would be the larger. The laws of the Society provide for a Visiting Committee to keep up the friendly touch with the sick ones who are cut off from their friends and fellow workers, and the Society itself determines the extent and duration of the sick benefit claims.
 Death of a member of the Acco Employees Society brings two insur- ances into operation One is an inn mediate payment of s100 for proper funeral, This payments operates without regard to the length of time a person has been in the company's funeral This payment operates insurance policy, ranging in size both