Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-10-01
EDEN q. HUNT
On Industrial Welfare Work

THAT welfare work, especially that OF
l. great corporations, pays excellent divl-
dends in the satisfaction Of the employees
and much improved general morale, Ia the
opinion Of Eden b. Hunt, superintendent OF
tho voluntary relief and pension departments
Of the Pennsylvania Railroad system.
Perhaps the biggest single thing that our
departments accomplish" said Mr.. Hunt,
'is that this work induces men to stay with
the company. It reduces the labor turnover;
which Is an enormous drain upon many OK
the largest industries.
"Our company is in the market for the
best labor to be found. and when these men
come to work we want them to remain.
Every company has a big investment In
each employe, and the investment grows with
the years the man remains at work.
I'm order to hold their loyalty and to
deserve their confidence and esteem Il Is not
enough that we take an active interest In
their personal affairs while they are healthy
and able TO remain at their work continu-
ously. It is when n man has been taken Ill.
when he has met with an accident or when.
at the close OF long and faithful term Of
service, he finds that advancing age has
rendered him unfit longer to perform the
strenuous duties Of his daily work, that he
needs attention.
Human Side Of Railrosdhg
when these unfortunate contingencies
occur our departments come to his relief.
Of the company is entitled to these benefits.
"When each employe Of the road Joins the
Relief Association he knows that he will re-
ceive daily financial benefits II he should be-
como Ill or meet with an accident. He
knows, also, that in the event Of his death
the death benefits will be paid to his benef
claries. But of equal II not Of greater i'm
portance Is tho fact that every employe
knows that he will be retired on the roll
Of honor, With a pension allowance. when
he reaches the required age and Is no longer
able TO do his daily work.
"These ore the things which haunt every
man not of independent fortune. When
these anxiettes ars removed from the mind
Of tho worker he can and does devote all his
thought to the performance OF his work
during working hours. and he does that work
to tho very best Of his ability. In his free
hours he has time for his home and his
family. Therefore, one of the main func-
tions OF our department Is to eliminate the
overhead Of worry-one OF the largest over
heads in the world-from the ia ,S42 mem
bers Of the railroads family.
Big Payments Made
During the first six months of the current
year the company has paid almost 81 1865 900
In pension allowances to retired employees.
In the same period-that Is, from January l
TO June 30-696 new names we're placed on
the pension list, which Is known as the roll
of honor. In that time 2S7 retired employees
died leaving n net increase of 400 to tho
pension list for the first six months Of the
year.
ION August I tho total number Of former
employees on the roll Of honor and now re-
ceiving pensions was 6406. 1t is estimated
that the average term Of service OF these men is
forty years, and the average age Of all en-
ployes on the roll Of honor Is a trifle moro
than seventy three years. The complete pen
sion list represents approximately d quarter
| of a million years OF faithful service rendered
| to the company and to the public by these
veterans.
THE pension department was organized
January, 1900. and since then the company
| has paid almost $24 900 900 in pension al
| lOwances This sum has been taken entirely
| from the treasury of the company, without
the contribution OF dollar on the part of
any Of the employees.
| Arc Retired Automatically
IAN officers and employees Of the road who
| reach the age OF seventy years are retired
automatically. Officers and employees from
| sixty-f five to sixty nine who. after thirty
years or more in the service of the COM
| pany, become disqualified for any reason.
are also eligible for pension.
| ''The pension allowances for officers or
employees are authorized on the following
| basis: For each year Of service, 1 per cenP
Of the average regular monthly pay for the
| ten years Immediately preceding retirement,
provided that no pension shall be less than
| $15 per month.
Therefore. If an employe has worked for
the company for forty FIVE years, and II his
average monthly, pay for the last ten years
has been. say, $l25, his pension allowance
on retirement will be forty five times 81 oS
or $3.50 Is per month. The acceptance of n
pension allowance does not debNr any EN-
ploye from engaging in other business. bur
he cannot re-enter the employ of the rail.
road.
THE relief fund Is for the aid of disabled
men, and TO this fund the employees con :
| trihnte The effect nnnn the mnrnI. "a ~ =