Evening star., 1925-07-04
VACATIONS PROVE
BIC ECONOMIC AID
More and More Leading Con-
Germs See Need of Real Rest
for Employees.
BY j. c. ROYLE.
,perlal Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star
NEW YORK, July 4-Vacations
have ceased to be regarded as favors
or concessions either in the opinion
of employees or employers. They have
risen to the heights of an investment
necessary for the economic and eff
Cient conduct of business. One of the
most significant business trends of the
last fiscal year has been the develop
ment of the practice of allowing not
only white collar and salaried work
ers. but those who are paid by the
day, piece or hour leave of absence
with pay.
Every experienced employer real
ICES that he cannot buy good will or
efficiency. But employers from coast
10 coast are coming to the conclusion
that vacations are among the best in
vestments they can make. Perhaps
the packing industry offers the best
example of this trend. The movement
in that line originated with Swift &
Go. who insist that executives and
office workers must take vacations
and that these rest periods are equally
necessary for the day and piece labor
erS.
Swift's Vacation Plan.
The Swift plan provides for vaca-
tiOu of one TO two weeks a year to old
non-salaried employers with pay
based on the average earnings of the
five weeks previous Operation of the
plan showed it so valuable in increas-
ing morale and efficiency and in gain
ing the good will of workers and re
ducing labor turnover that 6he plan
this year has been adopted by krmour
& Co.
Some of the steel companies have
inaugurated two weeks vacation with
pay this year for their day laborers,
and have even gone to the length of
requesting the families of their en-
ployes TO see to it that it is a period of
rest and relaxation rather than a
transfer to home work. Particular at
tention is drawn to those industries
since the workers engaged in them as
a general rule are not unioniZed. This
fact indicates that the movement has
been one only of economic pressure.
Oil Men Get Vacations.
One of the great California oil COM
panies has found it profitable to give
vacations of one to two weeks on the
basis of six months or year service
TO all. from president to field workers.
The Paraffine Companies, Inc. give
laborers on hourly or daily basis one
to two weeks vacation with pay and
figure that the practice adds 4 per
cent TO the pay roll. They believe the
increase is offset by increased eff
cheney and good will.
For a long time a service of at least
one year has been considered a pre-
requisite for a vacation. Now many
executives feel that the newcomers are
entitled to a certain relaxation, and
give one days vacation for each month
of service up to two weeks with pay.
Some firms compromise by allowing
workers a half a day off a week until
the vacation amounts to two weeks.
Rest Periods Help Trade.
1t has been a popular impression
that vacations have a good deal to do
with dull business during the Summer
months. But executives of one of the
largest stores in New Orleans deny
this is the case. They declare at least
IS per cent of those going on vaca-
tiOns make liberal purchases before
departure. A large proportion of the
industrial plants, especially in New
England, allow a vacation period to
their workers, although without pay,
and this year entire plants probably
will be closed for a more or less eX-
tended vacation period in that section.
Employers have found the vacation
period has little effect on operation of
plants. It is necessary to supplant
some employees, of course, but in many
instances the remaining employees are
perfectly willing to carry on the work,
anticipating their own period of lei
sure.
Understudy for Each Position.
The Commerce Trust Company of
Kansas City, largest bank in the
Southwest. grants vacations to its en-
tire organization! I'VE believe in va
cations" one of the officials of the
bank said. We believe our employees
are in a better position to do efficient
work if they get away from the grind
for a while. Vacations do not disturb
the work in the least. Clerks double
up and keep the ball rolling"
One of the most important results
of vacations, business men say, is that
they provide an understudy for every
position and insure the concern