The Washington herald., 1920-03-31
Ffy-FJjfy Plan of Profit Sharing
To Be Tried as Labor Unrest Cure
By National Cash Register Company

ceived for a siX-months period, the
time necessary to be eligible in the
profit sharing.
In explaining the general scheme,
Mr.. Patterson entered upon the
larger phase of the enterprise. 1t
was not considered by him as being
either entirely altruistic or utili-
tartan. 1t was a combination of
both, he said. The deciding factor
was the question of right, he in
sisted. when the query was raised
in regard to the plan being a pan
acea for unrest as well as a means
of increased production.
I'VE expect to profit, both in pro-
duction and contentment." he said.
"but the reason why / put the plan
into operation was because it was
a question of right"
Mr.. Patterson did not say what
would happen If the plan failed, but
he switched the conversation to the
welfare work on which he eXpends
thousands of dollars"
Tries to Know Employees.
81 believe in personal contact OF
employees and employers" he said.
IT sometimes forget but I aim to
recognize and get acquainted with
the employees. l also like to see
them contented and live well but
Il differ from some others in that
1 think that a man should be per-
mitted to live his own life with
out interference from his employer
in his own home. Through lee
lures, meetings and personal advice
our welfare department aims to
teach employees, those with families
especially. how to live the right
kind of life and how to make their
homes attractive, but that is as far
as we 60 except in cases of sick
ness when our nurses make regu-
lar visits"
The shop committee is not in
force in the Dayton factory. In
stead there has been started the
Employees Advisory Board. The
members OF this board are elected
by the employees themselves, each
unit of 265 men electing one rep
|resentative. These members are
empowered to make suggestions
and meet with the company off,
cials for discussions of any and
all grievances or betterment of
service.
All Can Submit Ideas.
A suggestion system was estab-
lished long ago and is still in force.
This aims to give the employees an
cpportunity to submit ideas on how
the product might be improved. the
output increased, waste eliminated,
improved methods for handling the
work. and also to advance ideas
for better advertising and selling
methods. More than 1000 cash
prizes are distributed semi-annualIy
for adopted suggestions. 1t was
really this system which gave birth
to the profit sharing idea.
Although the officials in general
were chary in discussing the real
motives back of the program, the
Dayton plan is simply one more IN
the long list of experiments which
looks towards the solution of the
labor problems. The plan Will ge:
a thorough trial, but whether the
employees will be satisfied with part
of the prorts and without a direct
hand in the manas ament was a
question among those who have
watched the scheme from its in
ception
Mr.. Patterson. despite his IS
years, Is an 'optimist. He Is also
against booze. He expressed the
opinion that with the saloon out
of the way unrest would gradually
disappear. He also touched upon
the fact that the sales had doubled
since the saloons were closed, al
though the saloons were ais Grst
and biggest customers.
3 G. w. ALEXsoN.