The Holly chieftain., 1920-01-01
Employees OF All Plants
Get Bonuses.
EIGHTY THOUSAND WORKERS
SHARE IN DISTRIBUTION
Men in Ford Plants Receive Wage
of from Sc to $1,000 Per Day
Bonuses to These Range from
$50 to S270.


Ford and his son, Edsel Ford, an
nounced today the distribution OF
a SS,000,OOO bonus among the $4,000
employees of all branches of the
Ford interests and the inaugura-
ton of an investment plan where
by every worker, from the man who
wields a broom to the chief execu-
tives, may participate in the profits
of the business.
Bonuses, which will be paid in
cash today, come in addition to the
protit-sharing plan which was in
augurated several years ago and
which will be continued. 1t is the
intention of the Ford organization
to make the distribution of these
earnings of the company permit
In cash and in the number OF
men concerned, and without count
ing the moral effect on industry as a
whole, this act OF economic justice
surpasses anything in the history
of labor.
The lowest award paid goes to
men who are receiving the mini
mum pay of $6 day and who have
been in the employ of the various
companies three months. 1t
amounts to $50. The highest award
goes to the skilled workers who
nave been with the company five
years and who are receiving $l0.S0 a
day. The bonus received by the
latter amounts to $270.
Employees who receive salary
will also receive bonuses. Ability
and length of service will be the
standard on which the awards will
be based.
In announcing the plan which
permits employees to invest up to
one-third of their pay in the or.
ganization and share in the pros
perity of the company, the allied
interests of Henry Ford are carry
ing out the ideal of Mr. Ford that
labor has right to participation
in the benefits of the prosperity
which it helps to create and, in the
words of Henry Ford himself
should have a share as well as a
job
When the complete ownership of
the Ford Motor Company was ac-
quired by Henry Ford and his son
last summer steps were immediate
ly taken to work out the details of
the bonus and investment plans
announced today. 1t always has
been the Pord policy to discourage
big dividends to nOn-prOducing
stockholders, and to use profits in
rewarding labor and in expanding
This policy, as Henry
Ford regards it means not only
good pay and share in the profits
for the workers, but the employment
of more and more people as the
business grows.
Henry Ford holds, and has re.
peatedly stated it as his belief, that
no man should be permitted to
own stock in an industry unless he
plays a productive part in the op-
Grafton of that industry, and the
initiation of the investment plan is
a practical application of that be-
Under the investment plan GER
tificates will be issued in the
names of employees in denomina-
tions of $10O, $500 and $1,000. Only
persons in actual and active service
of the organization will be permit.
ted to buy or hold certificates.
These certificates will bear a
guaranteed interest at the rate OF
six per cent per annum and in ad-
ditiOn to this further payments
will be made semi-annually if the
earnings of the company permit,
at rate fixed by the board of d.
rectOrs.
In case of death or disability Ger.
tificates standing in the name of
an employe may continue, at the
discretion of the directors, to draw
interest and payments for the bene-
fit of his dependents.
Deposits toward the purchase OF
certificates may be made within
three days after an employe receives
his pay from the company; the
amount deposited, however, is not
to exceed one-third of such pay. De
posits made toward the purchase
of certificates will draw interest at
the rate of three per cent per an.
nun, compounded semi-annually
Certificates must be paid for out
of bonus or pay and no employees
will be permitted to draw money
from his bank account or other
source to make payment.
A significant statement may be
found in one of the closing sentenc.
es of the company's announcement.
1t reads: "Other plans for enlarg-
ing the income and increasing pow.
cr of the dollar of our employees are
under consideration"
The nolicy reflected nv theaa an.