Arizona republican., 1921-10-30
REPORT O|V LABOR
 TURNOVER SHOWS
 BIG REPLACEMENT

Nearly three-fourths of the work CTS in American industries leave their jobs every year for one cause orI another. to be replaced by other men according to a statement recently made by one of the large insurancel companies after an exhaustive in quiry. This statement just received by Paul Bennett is one of the most interesting ever published on thisl subject
 Obviously such a condition denotes most serious economic waste. Itl points to one of the most difficult problems with which employers of labor in a large way have to contend the labor turnover, or the frequent change in the personnel of the work ing organization
 An investigation of some 1900 con cerns in the United States and Canada has disclosed that about 20l per cent of the total employees of the average concern have been in their present positions six months or less, and that the average length of em- ployment is scarcely more than three years. Only slightly over 10 per cent have been working in one place continuously for ten years.
 Looking at this question from a purely economic viewpoint, the waste caused by this apparently migratory l habit of labor is stupendous. It has been estimated that every time new man is hired to take the place of one leaving there Is a cost involved in wear and tear on tools and ma chinery, reduced rate of production, spelling of materials, etc. of from $30 to S200 according to the industry involved. The total loss. therefore, must reach a staggering figure. But it is not only the employer who is affected. An economic loss approximately as large. is suffered by the employe. For each time that a worker moves from one job to another there is a loss In time, loss of wages, moving, travelling and other expenses. And in the case of men with several dependents this loss is multiplied.
 While the Goodyear Tire & Rub | Der company has been more fortu- | nate in its experience than most large employers, due to the recognition by i it's workers that conditions in its | factories are unusually favorable and | employment reasonably certain, yet l the problem of labor turnover is one 1 to which much attention has been | given. In Los Angeles. particularly, 1 with it's pleasant conditions of life, I | | of living, and the attractiveness of its | climate, there are great inducements | for worker to stick to his job, sc l long as the pay is good and contin- | uol,s employment fairly well assured | Yet the migratory habit is not en- 1 tfreIy absent even in this favored city.
 Enlightened factory management | has for years endeavored to cope with l AL To apf a certain amount of progress hal been. recorded. Good housing, i'm nroved conditions of working in tho factory itself, the installation oi safety devices, bonuses, pensions ana
 many other. remedial devices have al been tried, with excellent effect fl general. But while they alleviate they have not cured.
 That the workers themselves arr lSeeuly alive to this problem and art eager 10 do their full share to i'm nrove their own condition. was re centlv shown at the Goodyear plants in T,oS Angeles. Following the ex amnle of the Akron, Ohio. employei of the company. the local force or oanized The Goodyear Relief asso- 1 ciatfon of California, to provide re lief for and to render assistance |, it's members in case of sickness. ac
 cfdent or death. To this organlZa
 tion all employees of the Goodyea
 Tire & Rubber company of California and the Goodyear Textile Mills com
 nanv are eligible for membership both men and women. The affair
 of inc association are entirely in tn
 hands of it's members. who annual. elect a board of trustees of five mem
 hers. the trustees in turn electing
 nresident, vice-president from thei
 number. and a secretary and treas
 urer from the general membership 0
 the association.
 Believing that this voluntary effor of their employees to take care of thei
 own problems was one which Wa
 deserving of the highest commenda
 tfon, and in the spirit of partnershi
 which exists in the whole Goodyea
 organization, arrangements wer
 made bv the company through Irwi
 Nurna. manager of the Los Angele
 branch of the Aetna Life msuranc
 comDany, to provide group insuranc
 for all members of the association
 tt,e avpense of the company. Unde
 this nlar every employe, without cos
 to himself. upon becoming q membe
 of inc benefit association. is entitle to s1 .OeO Aetna Life policy. cover